Students, alumni, parents and community members are upset with law enforcement tactics to quell Sunday’s Veishea riots, leading to mounting tension between the community and the Ames Police Department.

Several rallies have been held in response to disapproval of police conduct. However, rallies have primarily been student-organized. Ames police officials were invited to the rally at the Boheme Bistro, but declined the invitation.

The Ames Police plan on answering questions at the next Ames City Council meeting Tuesday. Ames Police Cmdr. Jim Robinson said Ames Police Chief Loras Jaeger will give a report on the riots and will be available to field questions from the public.

“Hopefully, we can control the rumors and get some facts out there,” Robinson said.

ISU Police Capt. Gene Deisinger said he encourages those who have concerns with the way police reacted to the riot to attend. Deisinger said he believes the report and question-and-answer forum will provide a great deal of progress in moving forward from what transpired at the riots to what can be done to prevent them.

“What I hope is that with reasonable dialogue in the community, we are able to get a better understanding of what happened and why,” he said.

“I hope that as a community we can prevent this from happening again.”

Anton Peterson, junior in accounting, who said he was sprayed while trying to exit the riot, said he is upset and wants an answer as to why he and other innocent people were sprayed.

“In my right eye, where he sprayed me the second time, it’s still kind of fuzzy,” Peterson said. “Sitting in class, I have trouble seeing some of the stuff on the overhead. My eyesight still isn’t 100 percent, still kind of fuzzy. I just want a reason why they were attacking innocent people.”

Robinson has been contacting some individuals who have filed complaints with an apology; however, he did not contact Peterson.

Brad Bell, 2144 Sunset Dr., said he was extremely upset with being Maced by police as he tried to walk home on Welch Avenue. He said an apology was all he needed.

“At the time I filed that statement, I wanted a lawsuit, but I was in a fit of rage,” Bell said.

“At first I just wanted the police force to line up and let me spray them, but I know that’s not going to happen. I’m fine with everything now.”

He said he will not file a lawsuit for compensation for injuries sustained.

“I probably am never going to do anything besides getting the apology. It was the only thing I really wanted. I’m good with dropping it there,” Bell said.

Robinson said he and the department are also investigating reports, and the department will handle any inappropriate police behavior they find.

This correction was printed on April 27, 2004

Due to a reporting error, the April 23 article “City Council meeting to address complaints” incorrectly indicates Ames Police officials will answer questions from the public at Tuesday’s Ames City Council meeting. No time is scheduled at Tuesday’s meeting for complaints about law enforcement behavior. Ames Plice Chief Loras Jaeger will give a presentation to the Ames City Council and field its questions. A public forum on the riot will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.