St. Patrick's Day Policing

Not everyone along the parade route was a spectator today...some were working to keep the crowds safe. New 3 watched the parade today with a metro police officer and took a look at the festivities through his eyes. For Metro Police Officer "Petey" Riviera - the annual St. Patrick's Day parade and festival is a welcome change of pace. Normally working as a violent crimes detective - on March 17th each year -he gets to enjoy a front row seat for the parade as he works to make sure parade goers stay safe while having a good time. The rules he's here to enforce are pretty simple. “No glass bottles - things like that. You're not really - you shouldn't have people running out in the middle of the parade - things like that, but you're gonna have your folks here and there that are gonna run out and wanna you know, show a little love to a soldier or a brother or a father.” Or sometimes even the officer himself. Despite all the distractions Officer Riviera - who comes from a military background - took the time to stand at attention and salute each and every American flag as it was marched past his position along the route.

As for those folks who run into the parade route - they're allowed a little leniency - as long as they return to the sidelines and nothing gets out of control...but every now and then - someone tests the limits...in one way or another....requiring a clarification of the rules.
“Hey lieutenant - this is Riviera. Hey, we've got a gentleman walking down the street in nothing but a Speedo - is that a violation? Nothing but a Speedo - is that a violation of ordinance?...he's walking down the street - he's naked except for a Speedo…you've gotta come by and look at this - you've gotta just decide for yourself.” Not certain if he was in violation or not - Speedo man was eventually convinced to put on a jacket...and continued to have a good time which in the end is what everyone seems to be having - even those working to protect. Officer Riviera says, “We really want to look out for the community's safety - the tourist’s safety. We want to make sure everybody has a good time.”

As of Tuesday morning police had made less than one hundred arrests in the festival areas since Friday...most were for relatively minor violations - disorderly conduct, urinating in public and open container.