No Alcohol-Related Incidents or Unruly Behavior Reported at Barbecue Bash

Sgt. James Molden, watch supervisor, St. Louis County Police-Wildwood precinct, said departmental officers have "zero reports" of any alcohol-related incidents or unruly behavior at the past few years of St. Louis Home Fires' annual barbecue bash hosted in Wildwood Town Center.

"We had one incident last year, but it was at the (Wildwood) hotel and it was actually over a parking factor," said Molden.

He said their main challenges come from keeping everyone safe due to controlling large crowd situations as well traffic elements. 

Molden said he also has heard statements about incidents that allegedly occurred at the bash.  "I'm not sure where people may be getting their information, however.  Or we (the police) just weren't made aware, if there were any such cases," he said.

Editor's Note: This article was updated as of March 7 at 9:25 a.m. with the following addition, based on questions from Eureka-Wildwood Patch readers:

Upon checking with Gary Crews this morning, he said he does remember being asked about alcohol-related problems related to the bash at one of the last couple of PEP (Planning/ Economic Development/Parks) committee meetings.  (Mr. Crews is the former police captain for the St. Louis County Police-Wildwood Precinct, and currently Wildwood's superintendent of parks.)  He stated it was at one of the PEP meetings prior to the announcement that the event would not be held in Wildwood this year.  But he also stated that his exact response was:  "You always anticipate problems at events where alcohol is served.  Police plan accordingly." He said he was not aware of any alcohol-related problems that occurred at the bash in 2010.  And in fact, he only recalled one incident that occurred during the first year the bash was hosted in Wildwood during 2009.  He said there was some "after-hours" unruly behavior that started to occur among barbecue participants--not the attendees--who were staying at the grounds during that first Saturday night. He said police happened to be on-site that night and stopped the activity; no police reports were required.  He said Frank Schmer did a great job of telling the barbecue vendors that type of behavior was simply unacceptable.  Mr. Crews said he believed Sgt. Molden joined the precinct after the first bash was held in Wildwood, so probably was not aware this first situation had occurred. Mr. Crews also said there was "limited police involvement that first year of the bash."  He said police support and involvement was executed in much more planned manner in 2010.