Should Specially Trained Citizens Mingle With Crowds at Public Events to Prevent Outbreaks of Violence?

The Scene: The parking lot of Dodger Stadium, about 9:30 p.m., after the 2-1 Dodgers victory over the Giants on March 31. Two young men dressed in Dodger clothing yell provocative slurs and then attack three men whose clothes suggest they are Giants fans. One of the assailants sucker-punches one of the Giants fans in the head and then both the assailants repeatedly kick him violently. Other Dodgers fans intervene to prevent further assaults.

The victim, a 41-year-old paramedic from Santa Cruz, CA, is later hospitalized in a critical but stable condition. Security in the stadium’s parking lots is practically nonexistent. The LAPD, whose officers are mainly stationed at the stadium gate, says it’s the responsibility of the Dodgers to provide security in parking lots.

The assailants flee, even though there are people everywhere. “Unfortunately, no one tried to detain them,” says Detective José Carrillo, the lead investigator in the case. Rewards totaling $100,000 have reportedly been offered for information leading to the suspects’ arrest, including a $50,000 reward voted on by the Los Angeles City Council just yesterday.

Question: Given how under-staffed the LAPD is, do you think it’s a good idea for trained members of the public to mingle with crowds during large public events so that they can not only try to stop any violence that occurs but detain assailants until additional security arrives? Further, do you think that the presence of such volunteers in public crowds will act as some sort of deterrent?