‘A Great Day for Football’: Eddy Street Residents, Police Detail Safer Notre Dame Game Weekend
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A much calmer game day on campus at Notre Dame, and nearby Eddy Street, just one month after two shootings the night of the home game against Michigan State.
South Bend police say five arrests were made Saturday during the Stanford game. And while weapons were confiscated, no shots were fired and no one was hurt.
Police and Eddy Street residents tell ABC57 this weekend went much smoother. With businesses enforcing that midnight curfew, crowds cleared out a lot earlier, leaving fewer reasons for people to linger late into the night.
Following recent game-day gun violence near Notre Dame, South Bend police stepped up patrols. Officers say they arrested five people and confiscated two guns near Eddy Street Commons on Saturday. South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski says the extra security is working.
“When you think of the, you know, tens of thousands of people, and we had five arrests, most everybody’s good. It’s just — it’s just a few who want to wreak havoc, and that’s the case. And it doesn’t matter if it’s the city, Mishawaka, the entire county,” said South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski. “It’s that, you know, less than 1% that just want to wreak havoc and do things their way, and it’s that. That’s not — it’s not going to happen. We’ve already shown — showed that.”
Neighbors in the area say they can already feel a difference.
“People were mobile; they had people driving on the carts, and it just wasn’t a lot of negative energy going on,” said 30-year Eddy Street resident Johnnie Johnson. “It was just mostly positive. It was a great day. It was a great day for football. It was a great day for Notre Dame victory. So that’s what we need to keep it that way. And then also at night, I’m finally able to, and the residents finally able to get some good sleep.”
Chief Ruszkowski has a simple message for anyone coming to town on game days.
“Go there, be a decent human being, and have fun. That’s literally what this is all about. You know, enjoy watching the game, whoever you’re rooting for, and then go on about your business. Don’t do ridiculous, disgusting, dangerous, stupid things, and everybody will be fine,” said Chief Ruszkowski.
South Bend police say they’ll continue setting up command posts around campus before, during, and after every home game, working closely with local, state, and federal partners to keep people safe.