The Baltimore County Police Department will partner with Towson University this weekend "to ensure a safe and successful Tigerfest," according to a county press release.
Police presence is being stepped up, and special enforcement patrols will be on hand April 24 and 25, from 11 a.m. until 3 a.m. in the Donnybrook, Knollwood, Burkleigh Square and Towson Manor neighborhoods and in apartment complexes on Kenilworth Drive, the press release states.
In addition, Towson University is providing additional grant funds for extra police, including in Precinct 6, where 15 more officers will be on duty over the weekend to keep traffic moving and the public safe, the release states.
Officers patrolling in the affected neighborhoods will be on the lookout for disorderly, violent and illegal conduct.
The number of criminal and civil citations issued by police in recent years at Tigerfest has fluctuated. In 2011, 42 citations were issued, and 23 in 2012. Police issued six citations in 2013. In 2014, 31 citations were issued, including 12 for using false identification at bars or liquor stores, 11 for underage possession of alcohol, four for open containers, two for drug possession, and one each for disorderly conduct and urinating in public. There were no arrests made during Tigerfest the last two years, police said.
The event has been relatively free of trouble the past two years, partly because the weather has been bad, said Lt. Randy Guraleczka of the Towson precinct. He added that the citation and arrest numbers he cited are only for police patrolling in neighborhoods and at bars, not for any traffic-related citations or arrests related to Tigerfest.
Larry Perl