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 .