Special Event Policing on Steroids

Churchill Downs reported that 150,729 patrons attended the 2019 Kentucky Derby in Louisville.

In Kentucky, the Derby is as much a part of our heritage and tradition as bluegrass and bourbon. On the national stage, though, the size and scope of the operation dwarfs that of many more-widely recognized sizable events. The 2019 Super Bowl hosted just 70,081 attendees, in comparison. The largest ticketed concert in American history, a 1977 Grateful Dead show in New Jersey, entertained just over 107,000 people.

Only car racing outnumbers horse racing in single-day event attendance.

From Paducah to Pikeville, nearly every community in Kentucky hosts some kind of large-scale event. Summer festivals flood communities with locals and visitors alike. From sporting events to Fourth of July parades, law enforcement across the state are responsible for the security, crowd control and policing of these events when large groups come together.

Louisville Metro Police Department has decades of experience under its belt policing the state’s largest event. So, the Kentucky Law Enforcement magazine staff asked them – what can other departments learn from the tricks, tips and strategies LMPD has acquired over the years?

Over the next several weeks, KLE will publish stories covering topics like the importance of relationship building and coordination, advanced planning, crime prevention, SWAT deployment, traffic control and dignitary security.

Use the button below to subscribe to KLEmagazine.com for these stories to be delivered to your inbox, or watch for the July/August print edition of the magazine to be delivered in early July.