In wake of attack, Chief Beck promises 'a sea of blue' at Dodger Stadium

Dodgers fans pack Dodger Stadium on opening day. (Photo by Larry Maestas/L.A. Daily News)

The LAPD has released composite sketches of the two suspects who allegedly injured Bryan Stow, a 41-year-old San Francisco Giants fan, after the Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium on March 31, 2011. Police describe the suspects as two male Hispanics between 18 to 25 years-old, wearing Dodger clothing. (Sketches courtesy of LAPD)

The LAPD will be playing hardball at Dodger Stadium following the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan, ramping up security for home games as part of a vow by officials Thursday to never let it happen again.

"You are going to see a sea of blue," said Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck. "And it's not going to be Dodger blue. It's going to be LAPD blue."

Giants fan Bryan Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, remains in a coma after he was attacked by two men wearing Dodger gear after the team's season opener last week. He has shown signs of brain damage, according to family members.

The security announcement came a day after the Dodgers hired former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton as a security consultant. Bratton, chairman of consulting firm Kroll, will review security measures at the stadium, including placement of lights, cameras and private security details.

"This is going to be a game-changer," Beck said. "People will be awed by the response of the Los Angeles Police

Department to this ... We will not suffer this as a city again."

Bratton will not oversee LAPD deployment at the stadium, Beck said.

Extra uniformed officers would be deployed around the stadium, and plainclothes officers would be working inside, Beck said. A Dodger policy banning off-duty officers from carrying guns to the games was being discussed, with Beck and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in favor of scrapping the rule.

The actual number of officers to be deployed was still unclear as officials were still hammering out security details. About three dozen uniformed officers currently work the games.

"We have a small portion of people who claim to be Dodger fans that are going there for the wrong reasons," said Beck, who called for a change of fan behavior at games. "And they are going to come across a very unhappy circumstance."

Dodger spokesman Josh Rawitch confirmed the team has agreed to pay for the extra LAPD security, but declined to comment on the cost or number of officers needed.

The Dodgers were without a head of security from December through March. They hired back their former security chief, Shahram Ariane, to serve as interim chief in early March.

Meanwhile, a reward offered for the capture of the two suspects has since grown to $100,000, after the City Council on Wednesday approved a $50,000 reward motion by Councilman Ed Reyes. Radio talk show host Tom Leykis has reportedly said he will add $50,000 of his own money to the reward total.

"To the cowards who did this ... we will find you," Reyes said. "It would be better for you to turn yourselves in." Detectives have received about 80 tips since composite sketches of the suspects were released, and one officer has been assigned to work full-time on the leads, said LAPD Deputy Chief Jose Perez.

"Help us ensure that these people are not allowed to walk our streets and attack another innocent victim," Villaraigosa said. "This ought to be a place where we all get to go with our families to celebrate the game."

Witnesses reported that the men were drunk when they attacked Stow, Beck said. The sale of alcohol was also being reviewed as part of security measures, he said.

The Dodgers play the Giants in San Francisco starting Monday, then return to L.A. for a series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

This undated image provided Tuesday April 5, 2011, by John Stow shows Bryan Stow holding his 12-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. Stow, a Giants fan was beaten after the LA Dodgers home opener on Thursday, March 31, 2011, has sustained brain damage as a result and remains in critical condition. The children are unidentified at the request of the source. (Photo by John Snow/Associated Press)

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