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Normal Town Council fleshes out policy response to large gatherings that can turn violent

A police chief sits in front of a town council
Braden Fogerson
/
WGLT
Normal Police Chief Steven Petrilli spoke to the town council Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, about how NPD responded to the incidents being addressed, and what to expect if police begin enforcing the new ordinances.

The Normal Town Council met Wednesday to flesh out plans limiting crowd size, noise and disruptions following large gatherings that have turned violent in recent weeks.

Organizers and participants of events similar to the pop-up parties held at various parks and gas stations in Normal on ISU homecoming weekend would face $1,000 fines. Such an event includes a combination of loud music, obstruction of streets, public consumption of drugs or alcohol, fights, vandalism, open burning, littering and disorderly conduct.

Normal's city manager laid out what town staff is proposing during an interview with WGLT on Wednesday.

“To send a message to incoming attendees of these types of parties in the future, to say that, hey, you know, you might count on your chances of being caught being low, but if you do get caught, it's going to hurt,” town lawyer Jason Querciagrossa said at Wednesday's council work session.

Council members learned the pop-up party scenario likely would not have played out much differently that night had the new ordinance been in place. But the aftermath would have.

“I think what we're trying to do with the ordinance is create a system that truly does hold people accountable at a much different level, from a financial aspect, that makes it highly disadvantageous for them to do that behavior in the future,” said Normal Police Chief Steve Petrilli.

Petrilli said Normal police often use social media to learn of potential issues before they happen. He said it has worked before to prevent an issue from coming to pass, but not for the pop-up party.

"Unfortunately, the incidences that happened on homecoming, we didn't have that intelligence that pointed us to a certain place with enough time to really intervene and prevent,” said Petrilli.

A mass gatherings ordinance would apply to gatherings on public property such as parks with more than 50 people. This addresses the conditions that led to a recent shooting near a youth football game at One Normal Plaza.

It would not apply to places such as public pools or sporting events, as more than 50 people could reasonably be at these places daily with no disruption. Prohibition would similarly apply to organizers and attendees. Events put on by the town are exempt. Gathering in a public space without a permit and using amplified music are two ways to earn a fine from the mass gatherings ordinance. Fines are in the $100 to $500 range.

“A lot of places from AAU sports and everything, the parents are more competitive than the kids are, and guns are being drawn and things of that nature, and it's ridiculous,” said town council member Chemberly Harris. “It's sickening, actually, to me. And so I want us to definitely send a message.”

The council is expected to vote on a formal proposal on Monday.

Braden Fogerson is a newscaster and correspondent at WGLT.