Police Hyper-vigilant During VEISHEA Weekend 'If You See Something Say Something'

Iowa State University plans to increase security during this year's VEISHEA after the bombing attacks at the Boston Marathon and Ames Police have asked Campustown businesses to empty dumpsters before the weekend should devices be left in them.

But Ames Police CMDR Geoff Huff said they typically increase security during VEISHEA and normally ask businesses to dump the trash, because there's less stuff to burn, should they be set on fire as has been done in riots marring VEISHEA's past.

The annual celebration draws thousands of people outside the university especially during the weekend events such as the parade on Saturday. But it's the non-VEISHEA sponsored events fueled by alcohol that cause officers the most problems.

Last year Mitchell Odell, a 21-year-old man visiting from Cedar Rapids, fell to his death. Odell, who was not an Iowa State student, was visiting a party in a high rise apartment building called Chamberlain Lofts and fell from a fourth-story balcony early Saturday April 21, 2012. 

No foul play was involved in the fall, but the celebration has been marked by sporadic violence in recent decades, according to an Iowa State task force report on VEISHEA.

Confrontations between police and partygoers escalated into riots in 1988 and 1992. There was a stabbing death of Harold "Uri" Sellers on the lawn of Adelante Fraternity in 1997.

And another riot during the 2004 celebration caused then-ISU President Gregory Geoffroy to suspend VEISHEA for 2005. A task force made recommendations to minimize the possibility of future problems and VEISHEA was reinstated the following year.

With the return of VEISHEA in 2005, Ames Police Department's Safe Neighborhoods Team made additional efforts to prevent out of control parties by stopping them before they started.

“Prior to that we were more reactive,” Huff said adding that the department went to homes after complaints were received.

“Now we are actively looking for places,” Huff said.

In the months leading up to VEISHEA, officers meet with residents of homes that have been the sites of nuisance parties hoping that one-on-one conversations will prevent problems.

Officers explain that they know that residents don't intend to cause problems. But Huff said a party's size can easily grow out of control leading to theft, vandalism and usually public urination.

Huff tells people, “Your party should only be as big as your bathroom can handle.”

And said that people should know all of their guests.

During VEISHEA people come in from out of town looking for somewhere to land, Huff said.

“And if it's your house, you might end up missing some items,” he said.

The conversations appear to be working. The department received two calls this week from residents who wanted help clearing their homes of party goers. In those situations, police stand by and assist if needed.

“Have a good time and and enjoy VEISHEA and just do it responsibly and if you see something say something,” Huff said.

Police have said that alcohol and weather play a big role in the number of arrests and calls for service during the VEISHEA celebration.

“When the weather is not real great people are less likely to spend time outside,” Huff said.

Ames police arrested more than 60 people on more than 80 charges during last year's VEISHEA weekend according to a report compiled by the Ames Police Department in 2012.

In 2011 temperatures dipped below freezing and just 39 people were arrested through the VEISHEA weekend.

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