It is likely Ames will not pass an ordinance forcing bars to train their employees as bouncers, even though it has been allowed to do so.

Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a bill March 21 making it possible for cities to pass a law requiring commercial liquor establishments to train anyone working in a security position in mediation techniques, civil rights laws and proper physical restraint techniques to be used against violent persons.

Councilman Steve Goodhue said he has not seen the bill, and it has not been brought to the council. He said he does not expect to see the bill passed in Ames.

“I think the police department and the bars work relatively well together,” Goodhue said.

Councilman Matthew Goodman said the council would look into the ordinance if people in the community express concern.

Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco said bar employees are encouraged to call police officers to handle situations with combative customers. The police are trained to make sure encounters are handled properly.

Ames Police Cmdr. Randy Kessel said he likes the policy. Through open lines of communication, he said, the bars would be better off calling on the police.

“[The Police Department] is taught and practiced to become proficient,” Kessel said.

He said he thinks this ordinance would be more relevant in larger metropolitan areas where they have civil liability areas to be covered.

“We have a better presence in bars than other jurisdictions,” Kessel said.

Stan Rivera, owner of MoJazz, 2518 Lincoln Way, Phuel, 116 Welch Ave., and 212 Main St Pub & Grill, said he thinks bouncer training is a great idea.

“We try to break up a fight in the most professional way we can,” Rivera said.

Kyle Epsteen, employee of People’s Bar & Grill and Lumpy’s, 2428 Lincoln Way, said there have been a few occasions when he has had to remove rowdy customers. He said he does not need a class telling him how to restrain someone and said he does not think there is much of a need in Ames for bouncer training.

Travis Fetrow, doorperson at Phuel and MoJazz, said he avoids all physical contact.

“Some guys want to fight. I ask them to please leave and sometimes escort them out,” Fetrow said.

Epsteen said he usually gets more than one person to help him deal with combative customers. He said they try to talk to people and get them to act civilly if they are out of hand. When he was hired, he said, his manager told him he was not a bouncer, but rather is there to greet customers and check identification.

“If you blow your top in a job like this, you’re just going to get yourself and others hurt,” Epsteen said.

Fetrow said he has never had to call the police for help with rowdy customers.

“We have enough people working that we can usually get them out,” Fetrow said.

On especially busy nights at MoJazz, there is a person patrolling to keep an eye out for dangerous situations, Fetrow said.

“If they see potential [for a fight], they ask them to leave before anything bad happens,” Fetrow said.

Kessel said his main concerns if the ordinance were passed in Ames are how to test for proficiency and to make sure that training sources were recommended by the city government. He was also concerned that with the constant rotation and high rate of employee turnover, it would be hard to keep a consistently and proficiently trained staff on hand.