With 60,000 people expected to attend the Coconut Grove Arts Festival this weekend, security is a top concern for event organizers and local police, even more so this year than in the past because of the January 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans.
U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the early morning hours of that day, killing 14 people and injuring 57 others.
“There’s always a risk of copycat, whenever there’s a successful terrorist attack,” said Don Aviv, president of Interfor International, a New York security consulting firm. “In this day and age, specifically after the attack in New Orleans, there is a heightened concern.”
In response, the Miami Police Department has added new security measures and resources for the event, Miami Police Commander Dan Kerr told the Spotlight.
Tony Albelo, president of festival organizer Loud And Live, said his organization will be working with private security, local police and Miami Fire Rescue to ensure that this year’s festival is safe for all.
“I think you could interview 60,000 people that went last year and I don’t think one person would say they felt unsafe,” Albelo said. “No serious issues have happened since we started running the event in 2021.”
Kerr expressed the same confidence. “We have no concern of anything happening, but it definitely helps to have the extra resources,” he said.
Here’s a breakdown of the security measures in place and what has been added.
Private security personnel will staff all gates and entrances into the festival, Albelo said. They will also be scattered throughout the event at different strategic points.
Miami Police will secure the perimeter, Albelo and Kerr said. (Information about the festival’s location, hours, tickets, parking and transit can be found here.)
“Since this event is on the street, Miami police officers will be tasked with handling traffic and street closures along with maintaining the perimeter,” Albelo said. “There will also be a police team on the inside of the event.”
This year, unlike other years, Miami Police will deploy large metal barricades and police cars to block streets leading into the festival – a direct response to the New Orleans attack, Kerr said.
Mark Schachter, owner of Investigative Consultants, a private security firm based in California, said barriers are necessary for any event like the art festival.
“You need some kind of metal or cement barrier to be put up blocking the street where people will be,” Schachter said. “This prevents any type of drive-through attack with a car or van.”
In addition, Miami Police will deploy more monitoring technology. Although the department prefers not to advertise it, Kerr said aerial monitoring technology like drones maybe be used to keep the festival secure.
Miami Fire Rescue will also have a presence at the festival.
“We provide our resources, working in conjunction with police and the city, depending on how many people are expected in the crowd,” Miami Fire and Rescue public information officer Pete Sanchez said. “We work the event every year and have resources throughout the festival to address any medical or fire-related needs.”
Albelo gave some additional detail.
“We have a fire inspector on site every hour the festival is open reviewing fire safety, tripping hazards, and anything else that could be a safety risk,” Albelo said.
He also said fire-rescue teams will be stationed throughout the festival in golf-cart like vehicles allowing them to move quickly to help anyone with a medical issue.
“Incidents are usually limited to things like somebody overheating,” Albelo said. “Someone might pass out because it’s too hot or they walk too much, things like that.”
In the event of a more serious medical situation, the rescue team would transport the patient to the edge of the festival where an ambulance would be waiting.
Spending-wise, the festival’s most recent financial report shows the Coconut Grove Arts and Historical Association, the nonprofit that produces the festival, spent a little more than $196,000 on police, fire and security for the 2022 festival.
Albelo told the Spotlight that these costs haven’t changed much year over year since Loud and Live started running the festival and therefore the cost for this year’s festival should be somewhere around $200,000.
Miami Police, on the other hand, will have more resources and funding after the New Orleans attack, Kerr said, but he declined to specify the amount or percentage increase. If you’re headed to the festival and would like to prepare in advance, this recent New York Times article and this tip sheet from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security both contain useful information on how to stay safe. The New York Times article suggests strategies like making an emergency plan for yourself and your family, being aware of your surroundings, and heeding your instincts.
