STRONG SHERIFF'S PRESENCE MAKES FOR MELLOW SMOKEOUT

Despite its rebellious theme, the Cypress Hill SmokeOut concert last weekend
at Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion came off with a lot fewer problems than
events of a similar nature.

Compared with previous Smokeouts in downtown San Bernardino, Saturday's
all-day show had its share of drug-related arrests, to be sure. Indeed, out
of 98 arrests, most were drug related, yet nothing was unexpected.

Saturday's SmokeOut didn't lead to the unruly crowds, traffic or litter
problems that have accompanied such concerts in the past.

Most notably, the Smokeout didn't result in the injuries or deaths that
sadly characterized the overnight concert held Labor Day weekend at the
Chemehuevi Indian Reservation outside of Needles.

That may be because the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, prepared
for the worst, kept a tight lid on events, so that things didn't get out of
hand.

After city officials and police fretted about the pro-marijuana SmokeOut
seemingly taking roost in downtown San Bernardino and the attendant problems
it brought both to the city's image and to neighboring merchants bordering
the National Orange Show Events Center, where the event had been held the
past three years, they were more than happy to see the event move down the
road to Devore.

The Blockbuster's relatively isolated location away from commercial
establishments was seen as a much better choice than allowing the concert to
have a spillover effect on adjoining businesses.

Granted, the SmokeOut drew fewer patrons close to 19,000 compared with the
55,000 at SmokeOuts downtown and the 30,000 that the Labor Day reservation
event drew. But it also was a lot better supervised.

Once the SmokeOut was moved to the Blockbuster, authorities decided they
needed to get a better handle on the event to minimize problems.

>From the get-go, sheriff's deputies realized the importance of establishing
a strong presence, so that concert-goers knew that openly lighting up, or
engaging in other imprudent or criminal activity, wouldn't be tolerated.

About 140 deputies, including uniformed and undercover narcotics officers,
were assigned to the SmokeOut. Deputies on motorcycles, horseback and in
helicopters were assisted by citizens patrol volunteers for high law
enforcement visibility.

That kind of strict enforcement paid off, keeping patrons' behavior in line.
It made for a relatively hassle-free concert with decidedly more mellow
results.

If we must have these events in our midst, that's the way to do them.

[Content not related to drug policy snipped for brevity]