When San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was slammed to the ground and kicked repeatedly in the head in the parking lot at Dodgers Stadium during Opening Day last week, the news garnered national attention.
Today, the Dodgers have taken steps to address their overall stadium security.
In a statement released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bill Bratton, former Los Angeles Police Chief and Chairman of Altegrity Risk International, has been hired by the Dodgers to evaluate and assess overall security at Dodger Stadium and its parking lots.
Here is the press release in its entirety:
LOS ANGELES – Earlier today, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Kroll Chairman and former Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton to assess policies and procedures related to security and fan services at Dodger Stadium, and to work with the Dodger organization to develop a best practices security blueprint that extends to both the stadium and the parking lots.
“Bill Bratton is widely credited with spearheading modern community policing in America,” said Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt. “There is no one better to lead a top-to-bottom review of our current practices and make recommendations to be implemented now and into the future.”
Bratton and his team at Kroll will begin consulting immediately.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to return to Los Angeles to consult with the Dodger organization on the security posture at Dodger Stadium,” said Bratton. “We will take a full and comprehensive look at security procedures and processes, and make recommendations based on our findings.”
Mr. Bratton possesses extensive expertise in U.S. law enforcement that includes achieving major reductions in violent crimes when he led the New York City Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Dodgers enjoy a longtime working partnership with the LAPD, and see Bratton and Kroll’s role helping with internal procedures at the Dodgers.
“We are committed to ensuring that Dodger Stadium remains a family-friendly environment for all baseball fans,” said McCourt.
Stow remains in an induced coma at a Los Angeles area hospital, and part of his skull has been removed to alleviate swelling on the brain.
“Bryan is hanging in there. He is doing the best that he can. They are doing everything they can to stabilize him,” John Stow, 39, told AOL News.
“We talk to him about the old times, the good times we had together, and share stories with music and interact with him as if he were awake. We want to tap into any part of his brain that can hear us and try and keep him holding on.”
A reward of $100,000 has been raised and is being offered for anyone who has information that will lead to the capture and arrest of the two suspects involved in the horrific beating.
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