Knott’s to Pay for Police Response to Overflow Crowd

Knott’s Berry Farm, under fire for a Cinco de Mayo promotion that drew thousands of teenagers from school and required 200 riot officers to calm, agreed Thursday to reimburse police for their efforts.

But officials at school districts across Los Angeles and Orange counties remained critical of the theme park, saying that the high absentee rates Wednesday will cost them tens of thousands of dollars in lost funding.

The Buena Park Police Department had not tabulated all its costs but expected overtime pay to run into the thousands of dollars. Dozens of officers from surrounding police departments also went to the scene Wednesday.

Apologetic Knott’s officials said Thursday that they expect to pay for the police presence.

“I’m sure they’re going to give me a bill,” general manager Jack Falfas said. “And it would be ludicrous not to pay it.”

Falfas also expressed concern about the huge numbers of schoolchildren who apparently cut classes to attend the event.

“One of the logical changes for us [in the future] is to be aware of the truancy issue” when scheduling events, he said.

The Cinco de Mayo promotion--which allowed visitors into the park for only 5 cents--sparked mass absenteeism at schools across the region as nearly 40,000 youths converged on Knott’s.

Educators said the celebration--which raised more than $10,000 for a local charity--hit them financially because districts receive state funds based on every student that attends campus each day.

“I’m sure it cost the school districts far more than the charitable contributions to the Boys and Girls Club [of Buena Park],” said Long Beach schools spokesman Richard Van Der Laan, referring to the charity that benefited from Wednesday’s event.

The holiday celebration was heavily promoted by radio and television stations popular among teens. In the Anaheim Union High School District, an estimated 29,000--about 10% of the enrollment--ditched class to attend the event, adding up to a loss of more than $70,000.

At Knott Elementary School, Principal Jim Luft complained that he received no warning from Knott’s about the event even though his campus abuts one of the park’s overflow parking lots. At 1:30 p.m., he locked down the school for fear of the rowdy crowds milling about outside the park.

Times staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this story.