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Lawrence police prepare for crowds on Mass Street

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March 30, 2012|By Karl Man | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(LAWRENCE, Kan.) — Lawrence law enforcement is bringing in the help of ten other nearby agencies to help with crowd control and safety for the Jayhawks Final Four match-up.

More than 200 officers will look to keep a projected 50,000 people in line in the downtown area.  "We will have officers stationed at every block", says Sgt. Trent McKinley.

The game-plan was hatched on Friday for hundreds of officers come game time Saturday evening. Officers say they want to work alongside the fans. 

"We are fortunate that we have done this a few times, so it’s not a foreign concept to us", adds Sgt. McKinley.

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A seven block stretch will be shut down to cars on Massachusetts Street starting Saturday evening. That closure will allow fans to flood the streets once the game is over.

Police say the two areas they want to focus on Saturday night are controlling fights and avoiding any property damage.

Officials add that they are ready to take similar steps Monday night if the Jayhawks move on to the national title game.

Overall, police say that the mood of crowds during the NCAA tournament has been jovial. Law enforcement officers are encouraged to interact with the crowd in the spirit of the moment. 

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