Rally's impacts huge, law officers say

Rally's impacts huge, law officers say

Mar. 22, 2001

"I can tell you there will be no children playing about as usual if this event takes place here."

— Capt. Alan TeBrink
Colorado State Patrol

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Members of the Dolores Town Board listened to a grim presentation from area law-enforcement officials Tuesday night on what might happen if they decide to host the controversial Four Corners Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally in 2002.

Describing the rally as an "overwhelming challenge that taxes all area agencies," Capt. Alan TeBrink of the Colorado State Patrol gave the board a breakdown, based on past rallies, of what to expect: monumental traffic jams and increases in crime, accidents and deaths.

TeBrink, who has been the incident commander for the rally the last seven years, has been tracking its impacts on area highways. During the busiest three days of the four-day event last year, TeBrink said troopers responded to 48 crashes and gave out 24 DUI citations, 97 hazardous-violation tickets (such as for speeding or bad passing), 28 tickets for property damage, and 76 other tickets, including five arrests on warrants.

Overall, last year on regional highways there were six rally-related traffic fatalities, and 18 injury crashes.

"On a normal weekend we get one to two DUIs and we average 200 crashes per month for a seven-county area," he said.

TeBrink estimated that the rally actually brings in far more than the 30,000 motorcycle enthusiasts who bought tickets last year, adding that thousands more stay for up to two weeks in the area.

"In essence it’s like doubling the population, and we’re already stretched thin," he said. "As far as the rally itself, it is not a family event. At the grounds there is a lot of drinking and fighting and drug use. . . (and) nudity, so it’s like, where do you begin?"

State statutes require events with large highway impacts to pay the state patrol for extra enforcement. Last year TeBrink said he brought in 30 extra state troopers from across the state, charging rally organizers $24,000.

Dolores Sheriff Jerry Martin said his agency would also have to be compensated for extra officers if the rally was held in Dolores in order to provide coverage for the valley up to Rico.

Marianne Mate of the Dolores Planning and Zoning Commission asked why law-enforcement officers could not negotiate for more money if they thought it would help. Officials responded that the danger in that approach is that the rally could balk at the deal, but come anyway.

"I came here with an open mind, but now I am starting to wonder," Mate said.

How much rally organizers will compensate Montezuma and Dolores counties for overtime must be negotiated between those agencies. Montezuma County Sheriff Joey Chavez said he would need 50 officers on round-the-clock shifts in order to provide adequate law enforcement during the rally, requiring expensive overtime.

Even then, he said, when that many people get together, laws are essentially "suspended" because of the mob-mentality phenomenon.

"We simply could not be there for every crime — it’s just too many people in one place," Chavez said, adding that the biggest fear for law enforcement is if "all hell breaks loose."

"Then what?" he said. "Where would we put them all? — because our new jail only holds 110 inmates, and right now we have 104 prisoners. Our hospital is also limited."

When asked if a major disturbance has ever happened before, TeBrink responded that it had not, but "last year we felt that we were very close to an outbreak, and if that happens and there is a huge brawl, we shut down the roads, do not let anyone in or out and arrest whoever is left standing."

From the audience, citizen Joan Petterson worried about the emergence of alter egos coming from otherwise respectable rally participants.

"It is crowd mentality that leads people to do things that they wouldn’t normally do," she said. "That lack of inhibition concerns me and with Lake McPhee being nearby I also worry about drownings, all the drinking, and the effect this event would have on our children."

TeBrink also said that about 1 percent of the rally attendees are actual members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, known as "patchwearers."

"They police themselves well, but you have to remember some of the different groups are rival gangs — these types of people sometimes do not respect cops" and can have a threatening presence because of their numbers, he said.

Regarding weapons, TeBrink said that the Southern Ute Tribe as a sovereign nation banned them from its San Juan Downs facility, where the rally has been held. But that ban would not necessarily be available for Joe Rowell Park, the public space being considered for the event.

"I’m concerned about that many gang members who could be armed, hanging out, partying in our local park," said one woman in the audience. "I mean, we have children and families who live here that need to be considered."

"I can tell you there will be no children playing about as usual if this event takes place here," TeBrink said. "Many residents in La Plata County, Durango and Ignacio leave town that weekend."

Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane was especially peeved that rally organizers told him they would not help pay for overtime needed to handle the influx.

"The impacts will hit Cortez very hard, but when we met earlier they told us they would not compensate for our department," Lane said, predicting that the event’s parade of 4,000 cyclists would likely be held in Cortez.

"My main concern is the sheer numbers, and our rescue and law-enforcement infrastructure cannot handle it. La Plata County and Durango have grown with the event for the last seven years, where we would just get handed it when it is already huge."

Other problems discussed were the lack of fire and medical rescue teams to handle problems and limited highway access in and out of the narrow Dolores Canyon. It was estimated that the response time for EMTs out of Southwest Memorial would be increased because of the traffic jams and amount of potential patients.

"EMS and fire would be overwhelmed also," said Rusty Hamilton, an EMT and fire volunteer. "Combined we have 30 fire volunteers, whereas Animas (in Durango) has 300."

Lane said that rally organizers also told him they would not compensate for fire and rescue needs.

"We understand the economic benefits that the rally will bring in," said Chavez. "But you have to balance that over its impacts on the community and decide whether it is really worth it."

Dolores Mayor Jim Moore was not sure when a decision would be made on whether to host the rally. He will meet with the Ignacio mayor today, he said, to gather more information.

"It would be great economically, but there are also a lot of problems that we would have to look at," he said.

A questionnaire on the rally is being drawn up to survey residents on the rally and public hearings would be held if the board believes the event is feasible.

"We have not made an offer to them," said Dolores trustee Val Truelson. "If we think it is feasible to make an offer then the public hearings would be held."

The board will be meeting with the rally board and its president, Warren Bernard, to discuss the issues, on Monday, March 26, at Dolores Town Hall, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.