By Sarah Metcalf and Stephanie Vosk
Gathered around a sign proclaiming “Matsui is Ugly,” fans oblivious to the flashing lights around them reasserted their efforts to celebrate as they marched through Kenmore Square, up the Boylston Street ramp and back to Fenway Park.
Police cars, bicycles and paddy wagons were already in place when the Red Sox forced the American League Championship Series to Game 7 with a 4-2 win Tuesday night.
As fans flocked to the empty Fenway Park to celebrate the win, officers quickly pushed the crowd down Brookline Avenue toward Kenmore Square. When groups refused to move, officers opened the wagon doors and offered them the chance to get inside.
“The cops are going overboard, and it’s because of last year,” said Katie Smith, a junior criminal justice major. “Last year, my sister got hit for no reason [by a cop]. They’re pushing us out of here for no reason.”
After being down 3-0 in the series, the Sox made the first ever comeback in playoff baseball to win the next three in a row. As the players huddled together on the field of Yankee stadium, some fans were upset they were not allowed the same luxury.
“They’re stopping the riots, but preventing the rallies,” said freshman criminal justice major David Thibeault.
Monday night, as the Sox made an unexpected comeback to win Game 5 in the 14th inning, 5-4, fans took to the streets, but were quickly ushered home by way of Kenmore Square. The Tactical Response Unit, as well as the Mounted Unit of the Boston Police Department, gave the crowd only moments to chant “Yankees suck” before breaking up the celebration.
“I think the preparation, training and obviously the numbers of officers that were out there certainly helped,” said Boston Police spokesman Michael McCarthy. “We were much more prepared for this series than we were the last — last year’s Super Bowl.”
After the New England Patriots clinched a Super Bowl win in February, nearly 2,000 people swarmed Hemenway Street, as crowds also gathered in Kenmore Square and other city areas. The brother of a Northeastern student was killed by an allegedly drunk driver during the incidents, and six cars were flipped on Symphony Road.
The Boston Police Depart-ment, in a report issued much later, took partial blame for the events, saying they would alter their plans for future series.
Since the Red Sox entered the playoffs, police have operated a central command office in Boston Police Headquarters, where state and local police have been joined by university officers to monitor action through real-time footage on closed-circuit television.
“We’re just keeping our finger on the pulse of the campus and monitoring where there are large groups gathered to watch the game so that we know where the large groups are in the event that there is a highly excitable end to the game,” said James Ferrier, Northeastern’s associate director for public safety, who has been stationed in the command center throughout the series.
Officers were also stationed in buildings around campus to monitor specific areas. Community Service Officer Joe Hartnett was assigned to the Stetson West dining hall for the 5 p.m. start of the game Monday night. Hartnett said every officer on the force was ordered in, to work in contingency with the “eyes in the sky” video cameras.
Two arrests were made for disorderly conduct on the corner of Lansdowne Street and Brookline Avenue Monday, said BPD spokesman John Boyle. But Ferrier said the geveral level of trouble was still relatively low.
“See there’s nothing to celebrate yet or nothing to be too disappointed in yet,” Ferrier said. “I think the greatest likelihood of high or low emotions is the night this series ends, one way or another.”
Northeastern Police Captain Albert Sweeney, stationed on Hemenway Street Tuesday night along with at least 20 other officers, said the force had prepared for the series and plans were going smoothly.
“This is the type of approach we’re looking for,” Sweeney said. “Students should be able to come out and celebrate a festive victory and then go back into their residence halls.”
Sweeney said the police department also became a “learning institution” after last year’s Super Bowl riots.
“There was a small group of students yelling and other students quieted them down,” he said. “They wanted to send a message to the community that we’re not going to be known for one incident.”
As the Red Sox prepare for the final game of the series in New York at 8 p.m. Wednesday night, the fans and the force are preparing as well.
“The police presence is going to protect people. Some will be pissed, but it’s good in the long run,” said Patrick Drogalis, a freshman pre-med major. “Pressure has been building, it’s going to be an explosion. Game 7 watch out.”
– Correspondent Amanda Carswell contributed to this report.
