Phillies Change Security Policy
By Wyatt Earp | May 6, 2010
God, I love that photo. I’ll have to make it my screen saver.
I know I swore that I wouldn’t address this non-story, but after the constant bashing of the PPD by the local and national media, I am choking on my own rage here. In case you missed it, here is the back story. On Monday, a 17-year old jackass named Steven Consalvi jumped onto the field during a Phillies game. After running through the field dodging security guards, a Philadelphia police officer subdued him with a taser: a weapon classified as non-lethal.
Naturally, the libtard idiots of the local and national media decried the action as “excessive,” even though Consalvi was unharmed. Yesterday, the Phillies allowed the hand-wringing to get the best of them, and they changed their stadium security policy. For the worse, in my professional opinion.
The Philadelphia Phillies have announced a security policy change following the interruption of two games by fans who ran onto the field. One fan was tasered by police, prompting an excessive force debate. From now on, Phillies team security will apprehend fans who jump on the field, unless more force is deemed necessary. Security will then hand the fan over to police for handcuffing and subsequent charging.
Read that part again. The team will utilize security until “more force is deemed necessary.” By the time that decision is made, it may be too late. What happens if the fan pulls out a knife, like in the case of Monica Seles a few years ago? Who do you think the Phillies will blame if someone is seriously hurt by a fan? Take a wild guess.
The parents of 17-year-old Steven Consalvi believe police used too much force after tasering the teen as he ran on the field Monday night.
“He definitely shouldn’t run on the field. Fine him, whatever he gets for that,” said Wayne Consalvi, Steven Consalvi’s father. “But tasering him? Definitely uncalled for.”
Actually genius, what was uncalled for was your son’s douchebaggery. If he just surrendered to the officer, the taser would have never been used. End of story.
However, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said he has reviewed the tape and felt the officer had acted within the department’s guidelines.
“As of right now, I’ve not seen anything that would indicate that the officer acted outside of our policy,” Ramsey said. “The bottom line is: the field is for players, umpires, managers and others. It is not for fans.”
It is important to note that Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, the Police Advisory Commission, and the Saint Louis Cardinals players agreed with Ramsey. Nutter and the PAC are not fans of the PPD. If they thought the officer’s actions were inappropriate, believe me, they would say so.
Following the two incidents, the team released a statement announcing the policy change.
“The Police Department is conducting an investigation into the use of the Taser gun on the field jumper on Monday night. The Phillies have had discussions at the same time with the Police Department concerning future incidents of field intrusion. It has been agreed that in ordinary circumstances involving field intrusion, the Phillies game day security personnel will make the apprehension of the field jumper and turn him over to the Philadelphia Police on the field for handcuffing and subsequent charging. If greater force is necessary, requiring the assistance of Philadelphia Police in making the apprehension, such assistance will be employed. The Phillies will continue their policy of prosecuting all persons coming onto the field during a game to the maximum extent of the law, which could include imprisonment up to one year and a $2,500 fine.”
That’s all fine and good. If the Phillies think their security staff can do a better job of “policing” the stadium than we can, more power to them. God help them if they’re wrong.
Topics: The Job | 43 Comments »
May 6th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Sir,
I thought tazers were to be used as a “next to last” resort before lethal force. I have always been assured by law enforcement that tazers are NOT a compliance weapon. Although the guy was an idiot, I don’t think he deserves death. My cardiologist has guaranteed me that if I ever get tazered, I will die. Period. To me, tazers are not an option. In my case, tazering is lethal and I will protect myself as appropriate.
May 6th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Robin – I wouldn’t presume to tell you how to react if you came into that situation. You do what you feel is necessary and take your chances.
I cannot speak for other jurisdictions, but the taser is a considered a non-lethal weapon in the Philadelphia Police Department. Have people died as a resultof being tased? Some have. Guess what? Some people have died after being struck with a nightstick. Some have died after being struck with an asp. Some have died after being placed in a control hold. Do we outlaw all of those measures as well?
The officer chased the man and told him to stop. He refused to comply, and the taser was used. The man, like plenty of people before him, stood up afterward with no serious injuries. That’s the point people need to take away form this.
Well, that and the fact that if the man didn’t act like an animal, he wouldn’t have been tased in the first place.
May 6th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
When I saw this video the other day, I wondered how anyone can be so stupid.
The parents of 17-year-old Steven Consalvi believe police used too much force after tasering the teen as he ran on the field Monday night.
“He definitely shouldn’t run on the field. Fine him, whatever he gets for that,” said Wayne Consalvi, Steven Consalvi’s father. “But tasering him? Definitely uncalled for.”
OK, I guess that answered my question. It’s hereditary. Fine him? I’m sure they will, but they have to catch him first. So how were they supposed to do that, keep chasing him around the field all day? And while the cops and security were chasing this 17 year old with the mind of a 2 year old, who was watching the posts they were assigned to? If a real threat had emerged, things could have gone horribly wrong while the people who were there to protect the players and fans were tied up with this idiot.
BTW, I love that photo too. The kid’s got that “My momma and daddy are brother and sister” look to him.
May 6th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Dude you are SOOO right. Any person in that situation is clearly a threat until subdued. Remember that idiot who took down the Pope a few months back? Supposed he broke his hip during the fall? He could easily have DIED from the complications. Also lets not forget the Police Officer in this case. Supposed he blew out his knee on the turf chsing this turd? Happens to PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES all the time. The Police Officer would be out of work and no MILLION DOLLAR insurance package.
A few years ago a Civil Affaris Police Officer DIED of a heart attack during a melee at some protest. Bottom line if someone got hurt or an athlete got injured or WORSE because junior assh*le here decided to break the law everyone would be singing a different tune. The cop is a hero. He did what we pay him to do, stop assh*les from screwing up society. Sorry if that doesen’t LOOK pretty. Tough. It’s sucks when John Q. Public is subjected to the realities of police work. It’s always “You should have…” Yet most people couldn’t.
TAZE HIM BRO. Then TAZE him again.
Robin if that’s the case stay off the field.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
BTW all the sports writers who jumped all over this proved yet again why they are sports writers. They were bottom of their class and can’t grasp complex subjects.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
The prevailing attitude among police agencies now is to tell your street officers NOT to get into wrestling matches with subjects that you know are going under arrest.
Police Agencies have to budget for Worker’s Compensation just like any other employer.
Then, there is a specter of Liability if you injure your suspect.
Solution: Taser or Capsicum Spray.
You don’t want to be tasered? Do what you are told.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Not certain who has less wattage…..the team management or the kid and his parents. I have seen bad hair color shine brighter than these idiots!!!
May 6th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Putting on my Solomon robe (pretend I’m intoning as I type for effect):
There will always be a**holes like the kid, and developmentally challenged adults too, so set aside a time…say during the 7th inning stretch, where people are ‘encouraged’ to run out onto the field. It will still be kept illegal, we don’t want to deprive them of the vicarious reward thrill, and there will be a police tazering team positioned on the field with overlapping fields of fire, like the Iriquois gauntlet line. The people have to sign a form not to sue, prior to etc. etc., they realize they could die etc. etc.
If they make it across the field without being tazed, dropped, arrested and cuffed, like making it thru the gauntlet line they get to go home, free with bragging rights. If the police get ‘em then they are taken downtown and booked etc. etc. This would give the police practice on moving targets and over time the fans could keep score, like …Police 10 Fans 2..etc.
Like in the Roman games, alot of people love to see others get hurt, maimed etc. this would appeal to them and ticket prices could be raised. Its a win-win-win.
Taking off my Solomon robe now.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Excuse my mouth but this is fucked up on so many different levels. Judge McCaffery was on TV this morning being questioned about whether or not the Bank needs a courtroom – screw that !! HAVE THESE FUCKTARDS ever been to a Phillies game. I’m sooooo sick of the bad press we get. Whenever I go to a game we have a great time, but not just with our crowd with everyone around us (that is if your not wearing the opposing teams shirt). We are not EAGLE fans ! We are not unruly drunked up assholes !!!!!
I wish the media would so suck off……….And as for the Phillies, making the decision to only involve the PPD when it gets out of hand….well – lets just say – I’ll be around to say I told you so when someone gets hurt because your upper management is a bunch of pussys who fold to the media so they don’t look bad.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
And again, I apologize for my foul mouth especially the use of the “P” work. ACK !
May 6th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
The elephant in the room is that it’s a Philly fan.
Do they still have a judge as well as the holding tank below the Eagles’ stadium?
Philly fans, of any sport, should be considered dangerous until proven unconscious.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
May 6th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Putting on my Solomon robe
____________________________________
Awwww, I thought you were gonna saw the kid in half.
May 6th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
JT-Thats for if he jumps on a stage in Vegas.
May 6th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Daddy states son is a goof and just does goofy things, then says that he didn’t think it was that bad. Proof that the nut did not fall that far from the tree.
Mommy feels it wasn’t that bad and apologizes for little Stevie
Step father agrees with Mommy- “No balls”
Stevie continues to stroke his willy
Put a bucket over his head and make him run the bases during the seventh inning stretch for a month hollering I am an asshole from Chester County
Chester County in-breds stay out of Philly. You are lucky you didn’t get capped. That’s reality.
May 6th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
I am just dumbstounded (my word, copyright pending) by the people that feel officers should be required to put themselves in danger by going toe-to-toe with non-complying individuals. Man, you have no idea what someone could have up their sleeve, in their pocket or what they are capable of. If one chooses not to comply, then I think a Taser at 15ft is an proper response. Saves broken bones on both sides of the confrontation. Protect the guy doing the JOB, not the asswipe. Sure, some may die from a taser, some die from eating peanuts, that is life, deal with it, there are no guarantees other than you will get tasered.
May 6th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Crusty – I dig you !
May 6th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Crusty, I’m from Chester County and I take offense at that. We’re not all inbred idiots like Stevie (though IIRC, most of the county did vote for Obama…)
May 6th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
The little sh*t needed a billy club makeover. The taser was too good for him.
I hate baseball!
May 6th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
I hate the Dewey Decimal System, too!
May 6th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
I really hate that Ray Stevens song “Everything is Beautiful.” I’m pretty sure he’s the anti-Christ.
…and I still hate baseball!
May 6th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Philly goes from ‘the City of Brotherly Love’ to ‘Don’t Taze me Bro!’
May 6th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Can someone explain to me the difference between a Tazer and a cattle prod? They are both tools to get an animal to go where, or do what, the holder wants them to. I don’t think people should be treated like cattle unless they pose a threat to someone else. I don’t see that in this case.
Wyatt, the only real difference I can see between a Tazer and a whip and chains is technology.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Wyatt,
Tazing that little bonehead was OUTSTANDING! If you ever get the chance, Shake that officer’s hand for me. The video of that punk going to ground was priceless!
May 6th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Totally agree with 1oldleg. Tasing should be standard practice at all sports venues. The jerks who enter the arena are asking for attention. He got it. In spades.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
John D – Note to criminals: If you want to rob the concession stands, send out a runner first. Apparently, it’ll paralyze the stadium.
Captain – Damned fine points there. I remember when Paris Williams died during the melee. I guess the media and Consalvi’s parents would rather that happen instead of the tasering. Mike Missanelli – a scumbag, in my humble opinion – has been running down the officer’s actions all week.
BTW, Wayne Consalvi runs an auto shop outside Pottstown in case you want to take your cars elsewhere. Just sayin’.
DaveH – But some people would rather have the officer tackle him, which could lead to the toad grabbing the officer’s gun. By all means, though, let’s do that!
MeToo – Phillies management is no different than any other company. They are all about political correctness and damage control.
Jon – Can I be in the stands to give a thumbs up/thumbs down?
Robbie – No need to apologize. This story has a lot of people bent. Personally, I would giggle a little if something happened before they could notify an officer. But then again, I am 100% evil.
Veeshir – No Seamus McCaffery was elected to the Superior Court, thank God. Trust me when I tell you, the man is a disgrace to the bench. He once threatened me with contempt because I decided to follow the commissioner’s order before his.
Cleanville – Awesome! Comment after comment stating “F**k the police.” If I were a police officer I would be pretty f**king offended at that.
JT – Now that’s thinking outside the box!
Crusty – Okay, that’s pretty funny.
Rob – And considering we lost seven – yes, SEVEN – officers in the line of duty over a two year span, my concern is the officer’s safety, not the toad’s.
Robbie – *sound of harps*
Raptor – We have plenty of inbreds in Philly, too.
Crankipants – So . . . you don’t like baseball, then?
Fenway_Nation – Shocking!
Robin – The taser has a much longer range.
Of course you don’t see the threat . . . now. We know he was unarmed and he did not harm anyone on the field. He did, however, make a beeline for outfielder Jayson Werth at the start of his run. What if he had a knife?
The officer had no idea if Consalvi was armed or not. No one did until afterward. We don’t have x-ray vision, and neither do the cameramen. We cannot see the future, but apparently lots of folks have 20/20 hindsight. Maybe someday that will be the case, but until then, we have to assume he was a threat until he was stopped.
I have no problem with folks making blanket statements about police officers or their actions. I deal with that every day. But Monday Morning Quarterbacks annoy me, especially when an officer has to make a split-second decision.
It’s akin to people second-guessing a soldier’s actions after the fact. Considering you served, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you don’t appreciate that much either.
1oldleg – I’m not jumping up and down with glee about the incident, but it had to be done. We recognize that fact and move on. No one in my division even mentioned it after Tuesday. If people thought it was awesome, I’m fine with that. If not, I’m fine with that, too – as long as people see why it was necessary.
Joated – Kid is an attention whore. Just another example of Americans making minor celebrities out of criminals. Disgusting, in my opinion.
May 6th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
That idiot is from Boyertown, which is NOT!!!! in Chester County. Berks County, please.
BTW, my son just came home this evening from his sophomore year at Penn State. Tasered Boy has been accepted at PSU and Chris told me that the word on campus is that this kid is going to have his choice of fraternities to join, no questions asked, no pledging period, no nuthin’. (Thank God my son isn’t a frat rat.)
May 6th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
And, yo, Raptor, where in ChesCo are you?
May 6th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Bob – Swell. Another reason for me to hate that school.
May 6th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
But Wyatt, I’ll tell ya, my kids are getting a good education there. Young lad’s in business, carrying a real nice average; daughter’s in athletic training/nutrition and has survived all of her “weed-out” courses in good shape.
May 6th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Bob: I don’t excuse the dumb kid running on the field but that is funny that fraternities will be competing for the numbskull.
No matter what old people try, they can’t get rid of the rites of passage of the young which is mostly being drunk and dumb!
May 6th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Bob – I guess that’s all that matters. Of course, that’s more the kids and not the school, in my opinion.
AJ – Best move I ever made was not joining a frat at SJU.
May 7th, 2010 at 12:06 am
As a proud collegiate member of that nationally unrecognized fraternity Tappa Kega Day, I resemble that comment.
May 7th, 2010 at 12:16 am
Bob – You don’t have to tell me. Lacrosse parties were awesome! (Well, the parts I remember were.)
May 7th, 2010 at 12:24 am
Philly = TAZERNATION!
May 7th, 2010 at 2:31 am
can someone do an audio photoshop where the guy yells respect my autharatuh
May 7th, 2010 at 9:00 am
In response to Robin’s post….
Since your Cardiologist assured you the Taser will kill you, you should be careful not commit a crime. Or, if you do, comply with the police, and don’t resist arrest.
The overwhelming majority of the few deaths after a person was “Tasered”, were actually caused by a Cocaine overdose. Those individuals heart rates were were already dangerously high because of the drugs and excitement. The “Taser” may have just put them over the edge. But, again, it was those individuals that put themselves into the situation to get “Tazed”.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Wagonsux,
I don’t put myself into positions to be tazed, nor do I break the law. I am a retired Army Major that spent 25 years defending our Constitution. I become concerned when I see possible violations of civil rights. Its not so much the act, as the precedents that are set when stuff like this happens. My breaking point on tazers was the 92 year old grandmother tazed because she honked her horn in her own driveway. It has become too easy to use when a police officer gets frustrated.
A cop in Washington gets impatient with a drunk driver and shoots him 7 times because he didn’t comply with his instructions. A Baptist minister is shot to death because he associated with a sinner that he was trying to help. Another minister is beaten into critical condition because he wouldn’t consent to a search of his car. The list goes on and on and doesn’t stop.
So the kid was a jerk and his Dad is an idiot. Fine. Throw him in jail and bar him from the stadium. Its not like he was going to get away. If the police had waited until he stopped running they could have arrested him without even the possibility of ANY violence.
I enjoyed watching the kid go down, too, but I really don’t want my entertainment at the expense of someone else. Shades of Circus Maximus.
If the police can wait out a barricaded gunman, why not a stupid 17 year old?
May 7th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Major Robbin thank you for your service and defense of our Constitution. Did you know that a TV newsperson was stabbed in Phila. by a fan running from the stands. What about her Constitutional rights?
If this J,O. jumped back in the stands do you think the Police would have trouble locating a guy wearing a Red Phillies hat and shrit in a sold out crowd? Render unto Majors what are military matters and to the Police what are civil matters.
Baptist minister shot to death give me a break This asshole was tazered not shot. He almost got what he deserved too bad it didn’t go up his anal cavity and light up his brain
May 7th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Personally I think the little turd needed tazed or worse.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Captain – SHOCKING!
Jimmy – That would actually be pretty funny.
Wagonsux – You said it better than I.
Robin – And how long do the officers wait him out? An hour? Two hours? The kid could have run the field until he passed out. Does he have more rights than the thousands of people in the stands? Never mind, I know your answer.
Crusty – Once in a while, a soldier uses “excessive force” while trying to do his job. At least excessive to some people. Does that mean that we modify their training and directives so everyone’s sensibilities are pacified? I think not.
Rick – I think it was the amount of force used to stop the fan. A lot of people – including those who are not our biggest allies – agree.
May 9th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Agreed.
Consalvi got what he deserved.
Since you love the photo so much, swing by http://sportschump.net who is hosting a caption contest in Consalvi’s honor.
May 12th, 2010 at 8:35 am
I just found your site and for the first time in years, found myself needing to add my comments as well….
As the son of a retired Philadelphia Police Officer, people just don’t understand the risk that idiots like this pose for all. Police are in a loose, loose scenario. If they do nothing then its possible that this idiot (I have other choice descriptive for this kid) injures a player or audience. If they do something, Police haters find a reason to complain. To those afraid of tasers….don’t act like a jack ass and you will never be at risk.
What’s even worse is the parent’s view of their kid’s action. My father and most others would have grounded me for months, let me face the court and said “good” for getting tasered. They would never defend the action. As you can see, this is what you get when you are a poor parent….a jackass son that society ends up paying for in court and lawyer fees as well as wasted time.
No sympathy. Thank you officer for putting down this little shitpot. Zap him again for me and any others that act like a jackass. V