Press Release: UofK StreetParty
PioCom Networking
December 27, 1998
Pioneering Communications & Networking LLC
Contact: Robert Boak
Interviews: (606) 269-6329
- Lexington, Ky
Lexington Fayette Urban County Government - Division of Police (LFUCG)
has been publicly calling for video of rioters following the NCAA
Championship games since 1996. Property and injury damages are
estimated in the thousands and many perpetrators have never come to
justice. This month, coinciding with the start of the 1999 Wildcat
season, video has surfaced that apparently few have seen including the
LFUCG. Pioneering Communications and Networking (PioCom LLC) claims to
have more than 18 hours of video from six of these so called "Street
Parties" but has only released 90 minutes of the material to the
public. Why did PioCom hold onto the video for so long, not releasing
any of it until now?
In an interview, company representative Robert Boak said, "Initially we
blundered into the project, thinking that we were taping a one time deal
in 1996. We shot a little footage to amuse ourselves; just having fun
like everyone else. By the time the 1997 playoffs got underway we
noticed that the street parties are quite predictable and with a little
advanced planning, we took advantage of that, having covered six parties
now."
When asked why the video hadn't been released to police, Boak said, "In
the beginning we didn't hear about a call for the video, we probably
would have given them that. After shooting a few of these parties and
investing in more cameras, equipment and then amassing a large
collection of 'extreme & shock' video, we finally did hear about the
video request from police. We feared seizure of the video, and that
would have ended the project. So we kept it quiet for two years."
Boak said, "The video is very frank and many aren't going to like what
they see. Many don't want it released at all! Because of the
controversy and the video's nostalgic popularity we have taken steps to
ensure that anyone that wants a copy, will have access to it from our
website at GoBigBlue.com."
Now that the video has been released, the question is, what will happen
to the other 16 hours of video the company taped and will it help
investigators in the still unsolved crimes perpetrated during the street
parties over the last three years.