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UCF Task Force Decides On Final Recommendations

Tuesday, October 4, 2005 – updated: 4:33 pm EDT October 4, 2005

TASK FORCE: Complete List Of Recommendations

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A task force formed after the death of an undercover University of Central Florida police officer met for the third and last time Tuesday and decided on its final list of recommendations.

Mario Jenkins was mistakenly shot and killed outside the Citrus Bowl by an Orlando police officer during UCF's last home game. He was working undercover trying to catch underage drinkers.

Tuesday's suggestions are just recommendations and won't be final until Wednesday. But they give a good idea of what the key issues are. At the top of the list is how to make football tailgating safer.

Jenkins was accidentally shot by another officer while he was dressed in plain clothes, trying to stop underage and irresponsible drinking. Now a task force will try to stop it before it even starts.

"I don't really care whether you get smashed by just pounding 'em down or whether you beer funnel, but to me a beer funnel is so obvious," said task force chairman Vice Admiral Al Harms.

It's so obvious that the 30-plus-member task force wants to ban beer funnels from Citrus Bowl tailgating. Students, campus leaders and community members looked at all of UCF's alcohol policies and procedures and decided on changes.

"Any new rule is gonna be uncomfortable at first. Students typically aren't in favor of ideas that limit them, especially if it's something that's not illegal," said UCF student government president Willie Bentley, Jr.

But Bentley said his classmates would adjust, especially to the idea of carrying ID to prove you're 21 if you're drinking.

"Whatever steps the university takes, whatever steps students take, will only help us to better do our jobs. We welcome those recommendations," said Captain Val Demings, Orlando Police Department.

The biggest controversy came when Orlando police recommended all law enforcement officers be in full uniform while working at UCF games. That would increase police presence and limit the kind of confusion that led to last month's shooting.

"If we're gonna continue in a multi-jurisdictional effort as pertains to UCF games or any operation, there just has to be clear communication and coordination," Demings said.

UCF police said they would need more time before agreeing to that, but it wasn't out of the question.

The recommendations will be given to the university president Wednesday. He will make the final decisions in time to get the word out to students and alumni before Saturday's game.

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