Security efforts ahead of the California Rodeo Salinas
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Businesses are getting ready for Big Week at the California Rodeo Salinas and Salinas Police said it's one of their busiest weeks. They are all hands-on deck.
"We do have more officers out on the streets, and we also have officers working at the rodeo grounds as well. We have officers with plain clothes, we have uniformed personnel," said Salinas Police Sergeant Gerardo Magaña. "We have surveillance cameras, we have drones, we have all training vehicles, we have SWAT officers."
Salinas Police Sergeant, Magaña said they'll have officers at the rodeo fairgrounds starting Wednesday. He said Wednesdays and Fridays are usually their busiest nights at the rodeo.
He also said officers will be present when the street parade starts on Thursday. Sergeant Magaña said officers usually work overtime during Big Week.
Salinas Police said they also work with the Director of Public Safety at the rodeo months in advance of Big Week to keep a safe environment.
"We're not just not in touch with Salinas police, but that includes all of our safety partners," said Kelly McMillin, Director of Public Safety for CA Rodeo Salinas. "Salinas Fire Department, the Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control, The Sheriffs Department, the probation department."
Director of Public Safety for the Rodeo Salinas, Kelly McMillin, said on top of having Salinas police and firefighters at the rodeo, they also hire a private security company to keep people save.
"They'll have about 55 people here and they're going to be working a little over 1,000 hours of post-time here at the rodeo," said Director of Public Safety for the CA Rodeo Salinas, McMillin.
Salinas Police said that DUIs are more common during rodeo week.
"We do see a lot of these because there are after parties, pregame--or they call it tailgating in the parking lots--and also the [use] of alcohol consumption inside the grounds and at the different bars inside the rodeo," said Magaña.
That's why Salinas police Sargent Magaña is asking people to do the following:
"If you're going to consume any type of alcoholic beverage to call in ahead, either schedule an Uber or Lyft. Even get a taxi or have someone that's a sober driver with you to take you to your final destination," said Magaña.
