Want to be in a rowdy crowd?

Barb volunteers weekly at our local public library, so from time to time she gets emails from the City of Austin about various and sundry things. The most recent was titled "Volunteers needed for Role Play assistance with [APD] Special Response Team (SRT)." And the message began with...

This will be a Crowd Control Role Play.  You will be a rowdy crowd for this training.  You will not be roughed up by the officers (you shouldn’t be touched at all).  One and all are encouraged to participate, this will help the officers learn to deal with crowds that they might encounter during a protest rally or large gathering in the city.

Okay. If I read this correctly, the City of Austin wants folks to come and pretend to be part of an angry crowd. I guess pretend is the operative word; goodness knows we have any number of non-pretend angry crowds in ATX - just go down to City Hall any time the Council is in session, or 6th Street on any holiday, or the Drag, following a UT football loss. At least we don't burn couches. Yet.

But we do have rowdy crowds from time-to-time, and I guess the Police Powers-that-be think that it would be best if the line officers got a taste of rowdiness in a controlled situation. Where things could be cooled down easily. Maybe. You did notice the shouldn't in the parenthetical phrase (you shouldn’t be touched at all) didn't you? Oh, this could be on YouTube so fast!

I probably ought to volunteer for this. You will recall that I have experience in an unruly crowd, having participated in the near-riot outside ABIA just after our return from California this Christmas. And Barb should go along with me so that cooler heads could prevail, like in December. Just so the phrase does not become (you might not be touched at all).

Want to join me?