Knott’s Beefs Up Security for Bash

Knott’s Berry Farm, which is billing its all-night and sold-out New Year’s Eve bash as the “world’s biggest rave dance party,” has hired seven Buena Park police officers to help keep the peace.

“We anticipate that this will be far less of a concern than we had for the Halloween Haunt,” park spokesman Stuart A. Zanville said, referring to Knott’s annual Halloween event. “The whole mood of the rave is mellow. There’s not any aggressive behavior, but a lot of performance art, classic music, opera, ballet.”

The party, named K-Rave ‘93, starts tonight at 9 and lasts till 5 a.m.

Zanville said Knott’s sold out the event at 4 p.m. Wednesday, selling 17,000 tickets.

Police Chief Richard M. Tefank said it is not uncommon for the theme park to hire additional officers for special events.

“We’re not expecting any problems--nor are they,” Tefank said. “But they feel they have that need (for extra security) and they reimburse the city for the extra costs.”

Tefank said officers receive time-and-a-half pay to work special events. The city estimates that hiring the officers will cost Knott’s about $2,100, Tefank said.

Officers will patrol outside the park on motorcycles as well as provide security inside, Zanville said.

Zanville said the extra officers are needed because the park’s security staff is not large enough to handle the big crowd.

The police presence “just augments the existing staff that we have,” he said.

Zanville also said Knott’s will encourage guests to park in the theme park’s lots and not in surrounding neighborhoods.

In the past, residents who live near the park have complained to city officials about Knott’s visitors parking on residential streets and causing disturbances.

Zanville said Knott’s will be transformed into a psychedelic environment created by special lighting effects and featuring music that combines the sounds of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

No alcohol will be served or allowed at the park, Zanville said.

Knott’s will be selling Evian bottled water--an appropriate beverage for a rave party, he said.

“It’s absolutely alcohol- and drug-free,” he said. “We’re providing a safe environment for teens and young adults on New Year’s Eve.”

The park’s stepped-up precautions include not allowing guests to re-enter the park, Zanville said, and there will be no entry after 2 a.m.

“If you look at the rave scene, it’s not what people think,” he said. “It’s not hostile and violent and it’s very anti-alcohol.”