closed #178235
Parks & Playgrounds
- Case Date:
- 11/21/2021
I am very upset at the treatment I received by a contract security person at the Bloomington ice rink this past Saturday. While I understand the need to limit or prevent outside food and beverages from being brought into the arena prior to the playing of hockey games, I felt that I was harassed and spoken to in a demeaning and bullying manner, one of the contract security personnel and that the manner in which I was addressed was not only unprofessional, but openly hostile. I am a 58 year old father of one of the players on one of the teams, who (without realizing the policy) was entering the arena with one-third of a home made sandwich that I was finishing. I was stopped and told “no outside food or beverage” was allowed. I replied “seriously? This is a third of a sandwich I’m about to finish. My son is on the team and I want to see him warm up”. I was told “no outside food”, so I left, finished my sandwich, and return. Upon entrance, a second time I was told “open up your jacket”, which felt like I was being accused of trying to smuggle another 1/6th of a sandwich in. My “jacket” was a fleece sweater, and I protested a second time and said “No, I’m not going to do that”, the security guard I have the issue with, proceeded in a very disrespectful and unprofessional manner, to grandstand and make negative comments about the HAT I was wearing, and approached me in an aggressive and grand-standing manner. It was humiliating, intimidating, disrespectful, escalated the situation, and was totally beyond what was called for. I came to realize that the rink requires the hockey team to PAY FOR THE SERVICES OF THIS UNPROFESSIONAL AND THUGGISH service. Additionally, I noted a desecrated American flag on the shoulder of the individual I am speaking of (one used by “Stop the steal” right wing extremists and militia, as a means to self-identify and threaten and intimidate law-abiding citizens who respect our government and the institutions so many have foyluhjt and died for. I don’t have a problem with what this individual does and says in their own, private life, but when hires and paid for as an extension of a city government agency, such a display has NO PLACE AND SHOULD BE (IF NOT ALREADY) PROHIBITED. If you are going to force a university club team to pay for a security service, that service should provide a minimal level of professionalism. The whole experience ruined my chance to se MY SONS game, and still causes me distress. A public apology by the individual, as well as a public statement indicating controversial political statements will not be tolerated , by the individual’s management, combined with refunding the team 1/2 the cost of that days security expenses should be provided. I am tired of seeing paramilitary clad thugs running without any consequence to their intimidation and bullying type behaviors. The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation department deserves to enjoy a reputation for unbiased and apolitical operations, and the Shield Security service employed this past Saturday fell far short of this.