Size matters
Crowd numbers can have an impact on safety
How to prevent crime in and outside of Monroeville Mall has been a topic of discussions between shopping center officials, community leaders and police since a February shooting, and the talks gained renewed urgency Friday night, after the mayhem that occurred as more than 500 collegeage students crowded outside a restaurant on mall property.
Installing more surveillance cameras and license-plate recognition devices are ideas worth considering, but the most advanced technology available won’t replace what was lacking Friday — common sense.
The owner of Winghart’s Whiskey and Burger Bar said after the fact that he had been told a large group of people associated with Slippery Rock University would be arriving at his restaurant. Prasad Bandhu said he’d been “misled” about how many people to expect — fewer than 300. His occupancy permit allows 250.
A group that had been characterized as approaching his space’s legal limit should have tipped Mr. Bandhu off that there was going to be a lot more to handle than the typical “Smith, party of eight.” Mr. Bandhu should have notified Monroeville police and mall security as soon as he found out.
Instead, accounts after the fact suggest that no extraordinary measures were taken until after midnight, when hundreds of additional young people arrived in buses. At that point, Mr. Bandhu shut down the bar. As the patrons spilled out and police arrived, shots were fired.
No one was wounded, but it’s likely the situation would not have gotten out of hand in the first place if adequate arrangements had been made earlier in the evening.
Monroeville officials said Mr. Bandhu has been a good owner, but Friday’s incident should serve as a warning that even a responsible operator won’t be able to handle a crowd of hundreds of young people.
As officials associated with Monroeville Mall continue to work on increased security for the popular destination, it’s important for business owners to carry their share of responsibility. It’s just common sense.