3 days ago
Wichita police boost security as Riverfest kicks off downtown
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — As Riverfest prepares to welcome thousands downtown starting Friday, Wichita police are ramping up security to keep festivalgoers safe during the nine-day event.
The Wichita Police Department says it will deploy a full range of resources, including its SWAT team, bomb squad, K-9 units, drones, mounted officers, and traffic patrols. Spotters will also monitor crowds from elevated positions, while drones will help track activity from above.
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'We're going to have SWAT down there, we're going to have the bomb squad down there, K-9's, the drones, the mounted unit, traffic officers—so everything we can do to provide as much security as we can and to make everyone feel as safe and as comfortable as they can down there,' said WPD Lieutenant Stephanie Neal.
Neal said officers are prepared for a variety of scenarios, including those that have become increasingly common at large gatherings worldwide.
'Given the climate and everything that's happening not only in the United States but across the world—where people are driving through crowds at events, there are active shooters at events—we try to plan as much as we can and as best as we can in the event any of those events would occur here,' she said.
Police emphasize that public awareness remains key. 'If they do see something that makes them uncomfortable, that they think is suspicious… we encourage them to go report that to a police officer so we can address that,' Neal said.
Riverfest attendees should expect to pass through metal detectors at the gates to both the main festival area and the carnival. No weapons or pocketknives will be allowed inside the event footprint, and backpacks and wagons will be subject to search.
'Keep your weapons at home… Don't leave any valuables in your car, especially not in plain sight,' Neal warned.
Many of the officers working at Riverfest are doing so on an off-duty, overtime basis, paid for by the festival. Neal noted this helps maintain regular police coverage for the rest of the city during the event.
'So officers sign up and they get assigned to those positions… We try not to pull from any on-duty officers because we don't want to use resources that should go to the rest of the community,' she said.
Neal had one final message for festivalgoers: 'Just have fun and stay safe out there.'
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