‘A big part of security is the theatrics’: KIRO hosts debate Bumbershoot safety after Bite of Seattle shooting

Security is top of mind for those attending Bumbershoot, the first major event at Seattle Center since a mass shooting took place at the Bite of Seattle festival in July, killing three people and injuring four others.

According to Bumbershoot organizers, the festival’s new security plan will feature a secured, fenced-off perimeter; metal detectors and bag checks at entry points; increased third-party security personnel; additional presence from the Seattle Police Department (SPD); and a dedicated social-communications team to handle emergency messaging.

“I would feel safe going back to the Bite of Seattle despite what happened. I don’t feel like it’s inherently any more dangerous than it was a year ago,” KIRO fill-in host Jim Dever said on “The Gee and Ursula Show.” “I think it is a good move to calm the nerves to have this increased security presence. A big part of security is the theatrics. Making a show of force so that people can feel confident.”

Still, Dever doubts the increased “security theater” at one venue eliminates the underlying risk of violence breaking out during a massively populated event.

“I think a show of force will also dissuade people who want to show up and maybe stage their gang battle on these grounds,” Dever said. “Maybe they’ll go a few blocks away. The gang battle will still happen. It just won’t happen at Bumbershoot.”

In the wake of the tragic Bite of Seattle shooting, the City of Seattle updated its public safety communication rules. Mayor Katie Wilson announced earlier this week that she and Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles will be in direct contact during any significant incident, with the SPD expected to provide information to the media within one hour.

But KIRO fill-in host Angela Poe Russell remains more cautious than Dever about attending large events without more defined security measures.

“I’m a little more nervous about going to big events that don’t have some concrete security measures that would deter the folks who want to engage in gun battles,” Russell said.

Russell pointed to a smaller, ticketed event she attended over the summer at Jimi Hendrix Park as a model she’d like to see considered for larger venues, where attendees registered with an email address in advance or on-site before entering.

“You show up to the venue, scan the thing with your phone, or you just go to the website, put in your email address, and then there’s some kind of tracking of everyone who’s been there,” Russell said.

Dever said he was less comfortable with that approach at the scale of a festival like Bumbershoot.

“That feels a little police state right there — like they know who you are,” Dever said, adding that he supports security cameras used with clear rules, but is wary of unregulated data-tracking systems. “It’s not about the tool. It’s about the way we’ve chosen to use the tools. I would feel more comfortable at Bumbershoot knowing that there are active cameras and that they’re being used properly.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.