Fair warnings
Paul Clinton
COSTA MESA -- Orange County Fair organizers have increased the budget
and personnel to keep this year’s event safe and secure, despite no
direct known threats to the popular annual event.
Managers of the fair, which will kick off Friday, have stepped up the
number of guards by 10%, increased the budget by 14% and will pay 5% more
to Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies patrolling the parking
lots and public areas.
“We came into this year knowing we needed to have a heightened alert,”
said Becky Bailey-Findley, the fair’s chief executive. “What the patron
will notice is more security personnel, but hopefully they will have the
same feeling of safety and security on the grounds.”
Attendance for the three-week event should top last year’s record
843,000 visitors, thanks to an expanded concert series and new extreme
carnival rides, Bailey-Findley said.
Last year, fair officials spent $269,000 on a contract with the
Sheriff’s Department. About another $13,450 has been allocated this year.
Fair officials also spent $270,170 last year to hire 189 security
personnel. This year, the budget was bumped to $308,923 to hire 210. Many
of the new hires are either retired police or current officers
supplementing their income during off hours.
Additional security have been assigned to the latimes.com Theater and
the Grandstand Arena.
Other than the increased law-enforcement presence, few other measures
are scheduled to be implemented. Random visitors might be asked to open
their bags.
However, fair security officials are shunning metal detectors,
identification checks and other practices implemented at airports in the
wake of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast last fall.
The reason is simple. There have been no terrorist threats, said Dave
Brokaw, the chief of public safety.
“We don’t want to create an illusion of danger when all the indicators
are absent,” Brokaw said. “It’s kind of like fishing in a dry fishing
hole.”
If any unplanned criminal acts do occur, Brokaw said his security team
would be prepared. Sheriff’s deputies plan to set up a mobile command
post with holding cells for potential arrestees. Also, Costa Mesa police
have promised to lend a hand controlling traffic at the fair.
Also, Brokaw said he would hear about any terrorist threats
immediately, because he has set up a direct pipeline of “free-flowing
information” with the FBI and other agencies.
* Paul Clinton covers the environment and politics. He may be reached
at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7 paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .
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