Halloween is usually like any other day for the ISU and Ames Police. Officials expected no increase in problems resulting from the holiday.

“There has never been a history of students acting out in an extraordinary way,” said Cpt. Gene Deisinger of the ISU Police.

The ISU Police have never seen major spike in the number of alcohol violations or vandalism, Deisinger said.

“I hope that the students continue to enjoy the spirit of the holiday without exhibiting any violent or destructive behavior,” he said. “The students are good kids.”

The police will have no major staffing increase due to the holiday.

Deisinger would not comment if there would be an increase of plainclothes officers.

Liz Gries, public safety sergeant for the ISU Police Department, said there is a minimum of three officers on each shift, although there are usually six.

“Generally speaking, we’ve had a good time on Halloween,” Gries said. “Because of the weather we usually don’t have people being too crazy.”

She said they had an officer at Goreville to monitor activity.

The ISU police don’t usually monitor the bars since they are on city property, but Gries said they will help out the Ames police if necessary.

“We go anywhere we want but we have special call areas,” Gries said.

Jim Robinson of the Ames Police agrees there are pranks like pumpkin smashing but nothing that is out of control or crosses the line.

The Ames Police will be fully staffed and will treat the day as any other, Robinson said.

“We hope the students enjoy the holiday responsibly,” Robinson said.

All officials said the weather would play a big factor in affecting people’s behavior. With a forecast of snow and 36 degree temperatures, the likelihood of problems decreases.

“Ames is pretty tame,” Sandoval said. “It’s not like Detroit, where they have a Devil’s Night. There, riots and couch fires are a common occurrence.”

Joel Congdon, public safety Sgt. for the ISU police, said he enjoys working the night shift better than other shifts.

“There is more criminal activity [at night] — you have a better chance of dealing with people who actually need help,” Congdon said. “There’s more excitement.”

Congdon said he didn’t expect Halloween to be more challenging than other nights, but he does look for drunk drivers.

“I’m not out to make anyone’s life miserable, but if I can keep someone from getting behind the wheel and killing someone, I will,” Congdon said.

People are often legally intoxicated even when they don’t feel they are, he said.

“The studies I’ve seen say that the most lethal [drivers] are between a .08 and a .13,” Congdon said. “That’s the point where they think they are all right to drive, but their motor skills and reactions are off. I’d prefer to get the people who are [at that point] than someone wrapped around a stop sign.”

Congdon said Iowa’s legal limit is currently .10, although it will most likely change it to .08 if the state doesn’t want to lose federal money for new highways.

Car 431 had a fairly uneventful night, at least from 7 to 9 p.m. Only two people were pulled over, one for driving without headlights and not stopping at a red light while turning right, and the other for speeding. Only the latter received a ticket.