UPDATED 3:40 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Police Department and Peoria Public Schools are praising a successful effort to keep people safe at postseason basketball games.
Limited attendance restrictions were in place for Wednesday’s IHSA boys basketball regional at Peoria High School. The restrictions were in place due to concerns from Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria over safety concerns due to recent violence in the city. He also stated that murder cases in 2020 and 2022 near Peoria High School caused some concerns.
Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat says she didn’t see any incidents during Wednesday’s games.
“My safety teams, Peoria Public School safety teams, did a very nice job as well. Had everything laid out, very, very well. I didn’t see any hiccups. I got there at 4:30 and stayed until the very end, and stayed after as well,” Desmoulin-Kherat said.
She also took a moment to give praise to everyone who kept the crowds and student-athletes safe; including school staff, principals, athletic directors, and referees.
“Adjusting at the last minute and pulling this thing off. That’s a celebration in and of itself,” Desmoulin-Kherat said.
That said, WMBD-TV/WYZZ-TV reports that its crews were kicked out of Peoria High School as they attempted to report on the attendance changes Wednesday. This is despite the fact the school is a publicly-owned facility. Reportedly, they have not received an answer from District 150 as to why school security denied their entry. (NOTE: WMBD-TV and WMBD Radio are separate entities owned by separate companies since approximately 1999.)
The attendance restrictions will still be in place for Friday’s championship game. The game between Manual and Richwoods is schedule to tip-off at 5:30 P.M. Student-athletes and cheerleaders from both schools will each be given 10 tickets to hand out to whoever they would like to attend. That’s double than the number available from each student on Wednesday.
Peoria Police says they will have a couple officers at the game on Friday. Desmoulin-Kherat says the no bag policy will still be in place, and suggests people who can attend travel as lightly as possible.
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PEORIA, Ill. – There were reportedly no issues after limited attendance policies were put in place at Wednesday’s IHSA boys basketball regional at Peoria High School.
Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria declined an interview request from WMBD to discuss how the evening went. But police and Peoria Public Schools says they are “happy that things went well during last night’s game.”
Echevarria raised concerns to PPS about the safety of people attending the regional because of recent violence incidents in the city. He also stated murder cases near Peoria High in 2020 and 2022 caused some concern.
The police department did state they will have a couple officers, in addition to PPS officers, at Friday’s championship game. That game will feature Manual against Richwoods, and will tip-off at 5:30 P.M.
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