METROPOLIS, IL — The capes have cleared and the streets are quiet again, but local officials are calling this year’s Superman Celebration a massive success. Metropolis Police Chief Harry Masse shared his wrap-up of the event with WMOK, noting a significant surge in attendance.
According to Chief Masse, crowd sizes felt noticeably larger this year compared to last year’s event, bringing a fantastic energy—and plenty of foot traffic—to Metropolis.
Low Number of Incidents Reported
Despite the booming crowds, Chief Masse reported that the celebration remained largely safe and peaceful. Over the course of the multi-day event, emergency personnel responded to just three medical calls.
Property crimes were low. Police responded to only one reported theft, which occurred overnight from Friday into Saturday. A festival vendor advised officers that a tray of meat had been stolen from their setup.
Carnival Run Deemed a Success
This year’s carnival setup came with prior community concerns regarding its close proximity to a nearby residential neighborhood. To ensure peace of mind for local citizens, Chief Masse took a hands-on approach.
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Proactive Patrols: Chief Masse personally walked the surrounding neighborhood during the event to check for any disruptions, noise issues, or traffic problems.
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No Neighbor Complaints: He confirmed to WMOK that there were absolutely no reports of problems or complaints from the residents living near the carnival grounds.
Social Media Report Addressed
While the event went smoothly overall, Chief Masse did note one specific issue that surfaced online. Law enforcement became aware of a social media post in which a parent advised that their child had been spoken to inappropriately by a carnival worker.
Masse said that though the officers had not heard anything aside from “carnival barking”, the matter was addressed with the management of the carnival and discussed during a Friday morning employee meeting of carnival staff.
Hear our full follow-up discussion in the Soundcloud player below:
