By Anthony F. Irwin
Downtown restaurant owners and representatives of the Fullerton Police Department gathered this week to continue discussions on how to more efficiently keep their patrons and employees safe. 
This weekend, security guards are expected to don bright yellow “security” jackets about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning to discourage rowdy and, at time, violent behavior that has been on the rise at closing time.
The group was the shown the surveillance tape from a fight between several people that took place June 14. “This is exactly why we need to more closely monitor the situation on busy nights in this district. These videos are popping up on You Tube and other social media and that’s not how we want our community represented,” said Lt. Andrew Goodrich.
The topic du jour was a private security company – Five Diamonds Security – bar owners might invest in to expand security across the district.
Jeremy Popoff, owner of the Slide Bar, has already been using the company for the last month and gave rave reviews about the work they’ve done. “At about closing time, two guards patrol the parking lot and politely ask lingering patrons to make their way away from the area,” he said. “It’s made for much smoother nights, and because of the increased training they’ve gone through, their presence is made much more professional.”
The group is now working toward further researching what private security would entail for restaurant owners and patrons alike and hope to be closer to making a decision at the next month’s meeting, scheduled for July 25.
Next month the group will also report on the impact of the new security jacket program.
Joe Florentine of Florentines and Popoff handed out jackets for the restaurants’ security to wear. They said they felt the jackets will present a united front to those who want to cause trouble as they make their way from bars and into parking lots. Officers will also be able to quickly pick out bouncers versus unruly patrons when responding to emergency calls.
