DC-area excessive faculties improve police and safety presence at soccer video games

At highschool soccer stadiums across the D.C. space, followers are seeing a considerably elevated police presence at video games. This is after a number of high-profile incidents throughout and after video games.

At Bowie High School in Prince George’s County Friday night time when Bowie performed in opposition to rival Wise High School, the variety of officers was noticeably elevated.

“If you do not have a ticket, we are asking you to exit the premises,” stated a faculty official on a megaphone standing in entrance of the doorway to the stadium. “Your parent or guardian must remain with you, throughout the game.”

Before coming into, spectators should cross via a steel detector, and tickets have to be purchased prematurely to the sold-out recreation.

Police additionally cleared out the parking zone and made certain individuals weren’t milling round. A big eye within the sky digicam platform, just like the one utilized in procuring facilities, additionally stood over the doorway to the stadium.

School officers are additionally transferring some video games to Saturday to permit for extra police and oversight.

The new guidelines additionally imply that solely college students of the 2 faculties enjoying can attend and all tickets have to be bought prematurely. There aren’t any walk-up ticket gross sales.

Parent Kevin Wolfork, a former professional soccer participant himself, is nice with the safety modifications.
“Everybody’s going to be safe, the students, all the parents and all the players. That’s very important,” he stated. “The students are safer. Parents are safer, and the kids are safer. That’s what it’s all about.”

At many stadiums, now should you depart through the recreation, you may’t come again in.

Bowie High Teacher Jessica Mealey helps the extra police.

“I know some people are very gung-ho about their teams and words can be spread quickly, to altercations,” she stated. “Sometimes people get very spirited, and it’s good to have protection in case things get a little out of hand.”

Many college districts are urging spectators to reach early at future video games to get via safety.

Expect the brand new restrictions to stay in place for the remainder of the varsity yr.

On Sept. 19, at Wise High School, two college students have been arrested throughout a theft that was happening within the parking zone.

“We did not want to penalize the school when, in fact, the incident did not involve students from Wise or Flowers this weekend,” the Prince George’s County Public School District stated in a press release to 7News. “Police and sheriffs will support monitoring the exterior and PGCPS security and staff will monitor inside the game. Only students from the schools playing will be able to attend and students must bring their student IDs.”

Former Wise High School participant Travon Burrells says it’s vital for individuals to expertise the joy of highschool soccer, however he agrees fan security is essential.

“I believe more students or more parents should get an opportunity to purchase their tickets, but I agree with the safety out here,” he stated. “For the kids’ safety and for everybody’s safety out here, so there won’t be no nonsense going on.”

In D.C., officers just lately introduced that oldsters have to be with their college students at video games following an incident at Archbishop Carroll High School when two college students have been stabbed.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced that DC Public Schools and Charter Schools will improve safety. This, after what officers known as “instances of spectator conflict” and the mayor stated the brand new safety guidelines that started Sept. 12 will final via Oct. 10.

Get breaking information and every day headlines delivered to your e-mail inbox by signing up right here.

© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This web site just isn’t meant for customers situated inside the European Economic Area.