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Should Comic-Con fans stay home?
Heavily costumed revelers could pose public safety threat, transit official says
City attorney candidate Bryan Pease was no match for the herd of officers who objected to his protest of the May 27 Donald Trump speech at the convention center.
Could this year's Comic-Con turn into a first-person shooter for real?
Just how much overtime is being paid and what kind of technical wizardry is being deployed by San Diego police to keep the event safe is a tightly guarded secret.
But San Diego's marquee annual fantasy event — with millions of dollars on the line for the city's tourist lobby — is drawing scrutiny from some quarters in the wake of crowd-based massacres in Europe, Dallas, and Baton Rouge.
“Even though these unfortunate incidents occurred, we’re ready for these type of incidents and take them into consideration for the planning process,” SDPD's Lt. Paul Connelly told the L.A. Daily News over the weekend.
“We will have numerous officers in uniform on foot, on bikes and in patrol cars and helicopters. We’ll also have a large [number of] undercover officers to make it a safe and successful event.”
According to a city document, the department’s "Armory Swat" unit provides "counter sniper capability" and "chemical agent support" as well as policing for special events.
Additionally, San Diego transit officials are set to roll with an extensive paramilitary presence, the Daily News reported.
"Nearly 200 armed transit officers and TSA-trained K9 units will be deployed along transit routes and platforms," MTS's Rob Schupp told the paper.
“These are bomb-sniffing dogs. With all of these incidents around the world, we take safety very serious [sic].”
Sharp noses may come in especially handy, as the widespread wearing of masks and other comic gear during the four-day event can sometimes prove problematic for law enforcers.
“For an event like Comic-Con, it’s a little bit tougher because you have people all dressed up in character,” Schupp was quoted as saying.
“But if anything out there doesn’t look right, people should notify someone or call 911.”
How much surveillance and police presence is enough, or too much?
The questions come on the heels of the city’s botched handling of a homeless killing spree that saw one suspect quickly apprehended and then almost as hastily released, all as national media looked on during Major League Baseball's All-Star week. City taxpayers came up with $1.5 million to subsidize the event.
The case doused hopes of Republican mayor Kevin Faulconer, a former PR man, to showcase his executive ability and true command of public safety here.
Under Faulconer, a self-proclaimed technology buff, law enforcement has loaded up on an array of high-tech gear, including an $18,000 system to monitor Twitter and other social media outlets for possible bad behavior, with other stealthier plans believed to be in place.
A public records act request made two years ago for information regarding a sophisticated citywide video-surveillance program was rejected by San Diego police.
"Your request for all Business Resource Sharing Agreement & Authorization and all Camera System information is denied based on security procedures," the department said.
Added the letter, "There are no responsive documents for your request to any copies of procedures regarding viewing these camera feeds. Operation Secure San Diego is still in the development stages. There are no procedures at this time."
On April 29 of this year, the police issued a memo to pharmacies and staffers urging that they connect their on-premises video systems to the department's growing surveillance network.
"In this new program, called Operation Secure San Diego, the SDPD would like permission to access your cameras as a part of its public safety and crime fighting activities."
By thus tapping into the city's burgeoning number of private spy cams, along with deployment of city-owned portable cameras and sensors for special events, police department brass reportedly hope to create a virtual blanket of dedicated video feeds.
The department's riot squad was on conspicuous display during the May 27 downtown appearance of Donald Trump, at which he made controversial comments about Mexican-American federal judge Gonzalo Curiel.
A multiblock-long convoy of military-type vehicles, some appearing to bystanders to be unmarked, silently conveyed a major contingent of riot-gear-clad officers down Market Street and onto Harbor Drive near the convention center. There they subsequently clashed with protesters, including city attorney candidate, lawyer Bryan Pease, who was tackled by a phalanx of officers as he stood in their way waving a campaign sign.
Trump later tweeted San Diego police, saying, "Fantastic job on handling the thugs who tried to disrupt our very peaceful and well attended rally. Greatly appreciated!"
Residents of nearby Barrio Logan later complained that San Diego’s police command moved unnecessary force, including helmeted riot squad members and SWAT vehicles, into their neighborhood following a peaceful parade back from protesting the Trump speech.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Should Comic-Con fans stay home?
Heavily costumed revelers could pose public safety threat, transit official says
Should Comic-Con fans stay home?
Heavily costumed revelers could pose public safety threat, transit official says
City attorney candidate Bryan Pease was no match for the herd of officers who objected to his protest of the May 27 Donald Trump speech at the convention center.
Could this year's Comic-Con turn into a first-person shooter for real?
Just how much overtime is being paid and what kind of technical wizardry is being deployed by San Diego police to keep the event safe is a tightly guarded secret.
But San Diego's marquee annual fantasy event — with millions of dollars on the line for the city's tourist lobby — is drawing scrutiny from some quarters in the wake of crowd-based massacres in Europe, Dallas, and Baton Rouge.
“Even though these unfortunate incidents occurred, we’re ready for these type of incidents and take them into consideration for the planning process,” SDPD's Lt. Paul Connelly told the L.A. Daily News over the weekend.
“We will have numerous officers in uniform on foot, on bikes and in patrol cars and helicopters. We’ll also have a large [number of] undercover officers to make it a safe and successful event.”
According to a city document, the department’s "Armory Swat" unit provides "counter sniper capability" and "chemical agent support" as well as policing for special events.
Additionally, San Diego transit officials are set to roll with an extensive paramilitary presence, the Daily News reported.
"Nearly 200 armed transit officers and TSA-trained K9 units will be deployed along transit routes and platforms," MTS's Rob Schupp told the paper.
“These are bomb-sniffing dogs. With all of these incidents around the world, we take safety very serious [sic].”
Sharp noses may come in especially handy, as the widespread wearing of masks and other comic gear during the four-day event can sometimes prove problematic for law enforcers.
“For an event like Comic-Con, it’s a little bit tougher because you have people all dressed up in character,” Schupp was quoted as saying.
“But if anything out there doesn’t look right, people should notify someone or call 911.”
How much surveillance and police presence is enough, or too much?
The questions come on the heels of the city’s botched handling of a homeless killing spree that saw one suspect quickly apprehended and then almost as hastily released, all as national media looked on during Major League Baseball's All-Star week. City taxpayers came up with $1.5 million to subsidize the event.
The case doused hopes of Republican mayor Kevin Faulconer, a former PR man, to showcase his executive ability and true command of public safety here.
Under Faulconer, a self-proclaimed technology buff, law enforcement has loaded up on an array of high-tech gear, including an $18,000 system to monitor Twitter and other social media outlets for possible bad behavior, with other stealthier plans believed to be in place.
A public records act request made two years ago for information regarding a sophisticated citywide video-surveillance program was rejected by San Diego police.
"Your request for all Business Resource Sharing Agreement & Authorization and all Camera System information is denied based on security procedures," the department said.
Added the letter, "There are no responsive documents for your request to any copies of procedures regarding viewing these camera feeds. Operation Secure San Diego is still in the development stages. There are no procedures at this time."
On April 29 of this year, the police issued a memo to pharmacies and staffers urging that they connect their on-premises video systems to the department's growing surveillance network.
"In this new program, called Operation Secure San Diego, the SDPD would like permission to access your cameras as a part of its public safety and crime fighting activities."
By thus tapping into the city's burgeoning number of private spy cams, along with deployment of city-owned portable cameras and sensors for special events, police department brass reportedly hope to create a virtual blanket of dedicated video feeds.
The department's riot squad was on conspicuous display during the May 27 downtown appearance of Donald Trump, at which he made controversial comments about Mexican-American federal judge Gonzalo Curiel.
A multiblock-long convoy of military-type vehicles, some appearing to bystanders to be unmarked, silently conveyed a major contingent of riot-gear-clad officers down Market Street and onto Harbor Drive near the convention center. There they subsequently clashed with protesters, including city attorney candidate, lawyer Bryan Pease, who was tackled by a phalanx of officers as he stood in their way waving a campaign sign.
Trump later tweeted San Diego police, saying, "Fantastic job on handling the thugs who tried to disrupt our very peaceful and well attended rally. Greatly appreciated!"
Residents of nearby Barrio Logan later complained that San Diego’s police command moved unnecessary force, including helmeted riot squad members and SWAT vehicles, into their neighborhood following a peaceful parade back from protesting the Trump speech.
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