Police Hope to Keep Halloween Revelry Calm

Hoping to keep a lid on potentially dangerous Halloween revelry, more than 500 police will be patrolling Hollywood Boulevard tonight to prevent the type of violence that marred the holiday three years ago.

On Halloween night, thousands of people usually flock to the star-lined strip to show off--and ogle--outlandish costumes. In 1988, however, a riot erupted among Halloween revelers, leading to vandalism and looting and costing thousands of dollars in damage to stores lining the boulevard.

This year, more than 500 officers will be patrolling the area on foot, by car, on horseback and in the air. Traffic control officers will monitor traffic and close off streets if necessary. Police were expected to crack down heavily on public drinking and public intoxication, City Councilman Michael Woo said. Police will also set up a field booking office and a temporary jail in the area to handle arrests.