**LEAD STORY** ENN 6/10/96 14:00
CHICAGO (ENN) -- The possibility that the Chicago Bulls will win another national championship is almost a forgone conclusion. Leading three games to none in the current series against the Seattle Supersonics, Michael Jordan and company have demonstrated a magnificent basketball prowess and should be justifiably proud of their accomplishments. Chicago fans, always hungry for a winner, are also jubilant about the possibility of another Chicago championship.
Unfortunately, there has been, historically, a "dark side" to the Bulls winning. On each of the most recent occasions that the Bulls have won a championship, civil unrest and violence has broken out in any number of Chicago neighborhoods. All too regularly, it would appear that street gangs and other petty criminals have used the occasion of a Bulls victory to justify the overturning and burning of cars, attacks on innocent people on the streets, burglaries, looting, and indiscriminate shooting.
To gain a perspective of past incidents, here is a summary from a 1993 EmergencyNet News report that was written as the events occurred:
Soon, reports of rocks and bottles being thrown at the police at 23rd and State were received, followed by a request for a "10-1" (officer needs assistance) at 75th and Coles. Fires were reportedly set at the disturbance at 75th and Coles, and a second request for assistance was broadcast. Concurrently, police at 2240 S. State reported that they were "pinned down" and being pelted with "rocks and bottles". At approximately 2120CDT, officers in the 2300 Block of S. State frantically requested additional assistance and reported that they were under fire.
Even though police and fire officials had planned extensively for this eventuality, the frenzy of violence continued to escalate. Police reported that they were having great difficulty controlling the intersection of Division and State in Chicago's Rush Street area. Mounted officers were quickly dispatched to attempt to clear several downtown intersections and several calls for "gas teams" were heard on police frequencies. The "gas teams" were Chicago Police officers equipped with pepper-teargas dispensers that are used to disperse unruly crowds.
At 2130CDT, reports began to be received of "breaking into stores" in the vicinity of 39th and Martin Luther King Drive, 62nd and Vernon, 66th and Cottage Grove, and in the 400 block of E. 34th Street. Although not specifically described as "looting", the intensity and frequency of reports would suggest that numerous "burglaries" were being committed. By 2140CDT, police and fire radios were alive with a constant barrage of reports of mayhem.
At 2145CDT, a Chicago Fire Dept ambulance was dispatched to Madison and Laramie for an unconfirmed report of a "policeman shot". Radio reports of sporadic violence continued throughout the city. Especially on Chicago's Southside, numerous reports were received of "large crowds" surging through neighborhoods, overturning cars, and setting of fires in garbage cans and dumpsters. Continued reports of "shots fired" were heard on police radios, and at least one police officer is known shot and transported to Michael Reese Hospital.....
City police and fire officials tell ENN that they have been planning for any such an eventuality, and are hopeful that no violence will occur. Mayor Richard Daley held a news conference on Monday afternoon and outlined some of the steps that Chicago will take to maintain order after the expected Bulls victory.
The security plan is believed to cost about $1 million. Some of the steps in the security plan include: