MANHATTAN — Riley County Police Department officials are working ahead to ensure they’re prepared for the 2019 Fake Patty’s Day in Manhattan’s Aggieville district.
The 2019 event, which will take place March 2, was a discussion point during this week’s Riley County Law Board meeting. Chairman Mike Dodson says over time, some of the participants have started migrating their celebrations out of Aggieville and into the surrounding neighborhoods.
RCPD Capt. Richard Fink says keeping control of the celebration is a top priority for officers.
Dodson says he’d like to see a culture created around activities other than drinking for the annual event.
New RCPD Director Dennis Butler says he attended the first formal planning meeting for Fake Paddy’s Day and a pre-meeting where he stressed a commitment to having a safe event.
Water filled barricades will be used instead of wooden barricades around Aggieville as an enhanced safety measure years past. A number of regional law enforcement agencies will also assist with policing around Fake Patty’s Day including Lawrence, Junction City and Emporia Police Departments as well as the Lyon and Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office and Wildlife and Parks.
