USC, city, county officers collaborate to keep fans safe
The USC Division of Law Enforcement and Safety has been preparing for the rivalry game against Clemson to assure the event is safe for everyone.
While police cannot say how many of its officers will be at Saturday’s game, there will be a “sufficient amount” to keep spectators safe, according to division spokesman Eric Grabski.
There will be between 50 and 60 Columbia police officers in uniform and in plainclothes, according to Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons. The Lexington and Richland County sheriff’s departments also assist at most football games.
“It’s not just police officers that work the game. There are security officers as well,” Grabski said. “There are many first responders that work the game. From police officers to security staff to EMS to fire officials.”
According to Grabski, police officers will be posted at all the entrances to the stadium and parking lots, as well as nearby areas USC owns and operates.
“They’re responding to calls for help or service,” Grabski said. “If they see a situation that requires their attention, they’ll respond and take whatever action is necessary.”
Such situations include fights, reports of stolen tickets, visible intoxication and health emergencies.
Patrols will increase in the Vista, Five Points and the Harbison area as well, Timmons said. There will be at least two officers on every street corner in Columbia’s most highly trafficked hospitality districts. The Columbia Police Department has a safety plan in place for all major city events, which includes this week’s game against Clemson. During these events, there can be between 20 and 40 additional officers on patrol.
With so many officers around, Grabski estimated that about 20 people are usually cited or arrested by authorities during big games like the Clemson game. Since there is usually a larger attendance at a rivalry game or a game against a highly ranked Southeastern Conference team, there are generally more arrests made at these games. Night games like Saturday’s matchup also typically have more arrests than day games.
“We tend to have less arrests, fewer responses that we’re responsible for and calls for services during a day game than during a night game, whether that’s a Carolina-Clemson game or not,” Grabski said.