AUSTIN -- On Ash Wednesday many people are giving up something for Lent. Tuesday night, dozens gave up their freedom by getting caught drunk downtown during Mardi Gras.
Austin police made 25 arrests during Tuesday night's Mardi Gras celebrations. Officers made 15 of those arrests in the downtown Entertainment District. With the no-refusal policy in place, the Austin Police Department also made 10 DWI arrests; eight people agreed to breath tests, and two had blood drawn.
Owner of Six Lounge and The Hanger Lounge, John Korioth, says the increase of uniformed officers in the Entertainment District cuts down on crime around the bars.
"Just a presence in the neighborhood makes a difference," said John Korioth.
"We had approximately 120 extra officers on our SRT, which is our crowd control unit," said Capt. Chris Gwaldo.
The crowd control unit splits into groups of eight to 10 officers. They spread out strategically to cover the entire Entertainment District, with even coverage across 6th Street. It's a plan they developed after a riot during Mardi Gras 2001. Now they use their safety strategy for many events and they say it's working.
Gwaldo says it's used in "any event where there's going to be a large crowd, larger than normal," and when the deman for excessive fun becomes larger than normal.
As for the arrest numbers -- they are obviously higher than most week nights, but about the same or lower than most Saturday nights even though Tuesday night's turnout was higher than a typical weekend night.
APD plans to use an advanced version of this same safety plan during SXSW.
