NBA

LA Police Chief Says Cops Will Be Ready To Curb Riots If Lakers Win

If the Lakers can bring Los Angeles its second title in two years tomorrow night, you know the city is going to go wild. But it better not go too wild…

Or else.

According to ESPN.com, the LAPD will be deploying hundreds of officers outside the Staples Center tomorrow night in order to deter fans from over-celebrating in the case of a Lakers victory and in order to ensure that the line between celebration and vandalism remains uncrossed.   LA police chief Charlie Beck had the following message for Lakers fans:

“If you vandalize, if you graffiti, if you assault somebody in conjunction with one of these [celebrations], I take it personally. By those actions, you defame the reputation of the city we all love.”

The move to heighten security comes in response to the scene that took place last year after the Lakers secured their NBA title where, despite the fact that the Lakers clinched the series on the road in Orlando, fans rioted outside the Staples Center and continued to do so onward into the downtown area.  At celebration’s end, storefronts had been looted, public property had been vandalized, and over 70 vehicles, including two police cars, had been severely damaged.

LA clearly has no interest in repeating this type of celebration, but the true question is: Will there even be a celebration at all?