Bloomington police plan tactical gear, armored vehicle, parking restrictions for IU–USC game

Increased security for Saturday’s (Nov. 14) Indiana University football game against the University of Southern California was announced in a city of Bloomington news release Thursday.

The release says Bloomington police, Indiana University police and Indiana State Police will deploy additional personnel and resources downtown. They’ll also step up enforcement of laws against disorderly conduct and public intoxication, enforce juvenile curfews, and impose temporary parking restrictions along Kirkwood Avenue and in designated surface lots, according to the release.

Bloomington police deputy chief Ryan Pedigo provided more details at the department’s daily morning press briefing on Friday (Nov. 13).

In addition to increased numbers of officers stationed downtown, some will carry long guns and wear tactical gear, according to the deputy chief. Pedigo also said that the police department’s BearCat armored rescue vehicle would be deployed for the narrow purpose of potentially extracting injured people from areas that had become dangerous.

The precautions come two weeks after a shooting on Kirkwood Avenue left seven people wounded in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, following IU’s homecoming football victory over Minnesota.

Pedigo said Friday that the investigation into that shooting remains active. Right after the shooting, he had told reporters to expect a different “look” from police at the next home football game. Pedigo said the long guns and tactical gear are intended to keep officers from being “completely outgunned” in the event of another shooting.

In connection with the shooting two weeks ago, police recovered an AR-15-style handgun near a man who fled the Nov. 1 shooting scene. Police also confiscated an AK-47 pistol from one of the injured people. Investigators also recovered spent shell casings of two different calibers.

The BearCat would be available to evacuate injured people from an active shooting scene when conditions are too dangerous for ambulance crews, Pedigo said.

The vehicle’s $225,157 acquisition in 2018 generated substantial controversy over police militarization. The Bloomington city council responded by adopting restrictions on its use. Under local law, the vehicle cannot be used for crowd control or during public demonstrations. Affixing firearms, water cannons and other projectile-launching devices to the armored vehicle is also prohibited.

Under police department operating rules adopted in 2018, the Critical Incident Response Team commander has to submit a written report within 72 hours after each activation. The rules also require a command staff review and monthly statistical reports to the Board of Public Safety, including armored vehicle use.

The city’s public dataset on the armored vehicle’s use contains 34 records of armored vehicle use dating to July 2018. Of the 34 entries, 18 involve warrant service, 13 barricade situations, two weapons calls and one emergency detention order. None of the records includes an officer firing a weapon. One record shows the use of the vehicle’s ram.

The city’s Thursday news release specifically mentions Indiana’s curfew laws for minors, along with enforcement of laws against disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Violators could face citations or arrest.

Under state law, the statewide curfew for children ages 15 through 17 begins at 1 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and at 11 p.m. on other nights. It ends at 5 a.m. For children younger than 15, the curfew runs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. every night. Statutory exceptions include children accompanied by parents and those traveling to or from work.

A 17-year-old was among the seven people injured two weeks ago. A 17-year-old was also among five women struck by bullets or bullet fragments during a shooting on Kirkwood Avenue over Little 500 weekend in April.

The temporary parking restrictions along Kirkwood Avenue between Indiana Avenue and Grant Street were already posted on street parking meters on Thursday evening. The release urges motorists to observe posted parking notices.

The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 14) at Memorial Stadium.