Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

The law enforcement veteran takes a closer look at incidents involving Philadelphia Eagles fans who were arrested following their victory at the Super Bowl this past Sunday.

There is such a thing as enjoying a hard-earned victory for a sports team and doing so both joyfully and responsibly.

But there are also those fans who go outside these categories, creating chaos as a result. And I’ll never really understand them.

We’ve seen it for years. Teams like the Boston Red Sox and the L.A. Lakers win big championship victories, and yet, somehow, just hours later we hear about how some people began setting fires or flipping over cars. It’s like they use the victory as an excuse for wanton violence.

And apparently that happened in Philadelphia.

The Eagles won a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday at the Super Bowl, in a game watched by millions. As expected, thousands of fans took to the streets of the city to celebrate, but some of them got a little too rowdy for their own good.

According to Law Enforcement Today, several fans were climbing and tearing up poles and jumping on vehicles. This resulted in several arrests, as well as dozens of citations being issued. What’s more, some of these fans even attacked police officers.

So just how out of control did these fans get? Well, as I mentioned above, fires were set; and others managed to throw around garbage like it was going out of style.

What is it then? What causes these fans to go out and do this sort of thing when a simple celebration with others would do the trick? Well, there are a couple of factors to consider.

The first is obvious – alcohol. Fans go out to watch their favorite teams play at their local bar or restaurant, and no doubt order a beer or two while they watch. Some establishments are also known for offering shot specials, which consumers will happily engage in when their team is in the lead or falling a bit behind. (Usually, they’re provided after certain scoring periods, like when the Eagles scored a touchdown.)

At first it seems like no big deal. But these drinks add up. As a result, fans lose their ability to control themselves. And upon the moment of a big victory like the Eagles achieved, they simply go out and act like lunatics. They’re not able to maintain civility because they’re too drunk to care.

This is not good, because it can lead to devastating actions on their part. As I mentioned, some even went out of their way to assault police officers who were trying to keep the peace. Why? Because they were “interrupting their good time”? Doesn’t matter. You can have fun without trying to tear apart pieces of the terrain.

Then there’s the other factor – some folks just live for this type of destruction. They do. They think flipping over a car and setting fires is the order of the day. We’ve seen it at get-togethers in the past, and what can happen, when someone is left to their own resources. They’re one of the big reasons why police are patrolling these areas – to make sure they don’t get out of hand.

Officers in Philadelphia did a terrific job keeping the crowds from getting too rowdy, although there was still a significant amount of clean-up required at the end of the night. But it just bugs me how some people have to resort to utter destruction to express their joy. They’re often destroying their own neighborhoods.

What happened to a good ol’ high five or hugging someone? And, sure, having a drink, but being responsible with it unless you’re in the comfort of your home, and not setting out to destroy a neighbor’s car down the street. There’s a reason to be happy, but some sense of control should also be considered.

We probably haven’t seen the end of this kind of celebration, but I implore you to, at the very least, not take it out on someone else’s property. Or, for that matter, our officers. They don’t deserve it and, just like you, they’re just trying to keep things neutral while everyone enjoys the victory.

It never hurts to be responsible. I know for sure that the Eagles are. Fans should definitely follow suit.

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Michael Letts

Michael A. Letts, Founder, President, and CEO of In-Vest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bullet-proof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs.

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