New security measures are being implemented for Oktoberfest this year to give more control for officials to maintain the area with a bike rack type of fence along with limitations on bags.
“It kind of defines the area where the event is for us. It’s going to give us a couple of actual control points where people can come and go,” said Operations Officer Lt. John Johnson.
“So that we can manage the overall safety of the operation, it’s better if we can control what’s brought in and how that is managed inside of the venue itself,” said LUPD Col. Robert Beach.
The biggest concern for both LUPD and Student Activities is what students are going to be carrying in the bags. “We’ve seen it over in Europe, you know people just drop bags and what's in a bag,” said Sullivan.
According to Johnson, other security officials from the Piedmont Regional Jail will also be present during Oktoberfest to help manage the stage and the entrances.
“They are not to take any action on anything. If someone gives them a problem about that, then they will notify one of us and we will come over and take care of the issue,” said Johnson.
Sullivan stated the operation of using a temporary fenced-in area was suggested in an after-action report they received from LUPD in early May. According to Sullivan, the report suggested “In the future that it would be good if we could find a way to secure the back area to limit what comes into the site.”
Sullivan said they first tried the operation during the Mega-Reunion in June and was successful.
Johnson said that the fencing will be a waist-high bike rack type fence and that if there were a situation it can be easily moved. “We can pick it up and slide it and move it out of the way so if there is an issue.”
The fencing will be put up the friday before Oktoberfest, according to Sullivan, with the two entrances being on Redford Street and Madison Street.
Johnson said that there will be no cost for the fencing. “The fencing is actually owned by Longwood,” he said.
For both students and guests attending Oktoberfest, only clear bags and small handbags of certain sizes will be allowed in, according to Johnson.
Large bags, such as backpacks or tote bags, will not be allowed into the event to prevent items such as alcohol or anything else from being brought it, according to Sullivan.
According to Johnson, if a student were to bring a large bag to the event, they will be turned away and asked to get rid of the bag before they can enter the venue.
According to Beach, there is an incident-action plan in response should a critical incident occur. He stated, however, that the document is confidential.
As for how often the fencing will be used, Sullivan stated that it will be standard for most future events. “At least every Oktoberfest and every Spring Weekend for sure.”
