Pierce County law enforcement bracing for 7 days of Super Bowl-type crowds
Apr 23, 2015, 5:35 PM | Updated: Apr 24, 2015, 6:19 am
Organizers are expecting to have public safety staff similar to that of past U.S. Opens. That means between 350-450 people, or more, monitoring the event. (AP)
(AP)
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is waiting to hear back on statewide requests for assistance during the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.
Organizers are expecting to have public safety staff similar to that of past U.S. Opens. That means between 350-450 people, or more, monitoring the event.
Memorandums of understanding (MOU) were sent out to agencies around the state, according to Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Captain Scott Mielcarek. He is the law enforcement incident commander for the 2015 U.S. Open.
“This is likely one of the largest events that has been held in the Pacific Northwest,” Mielcarek said. “It’s a Super-Bowl-a-day for seven days in a row.”
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of planning and the supervision of all law enforcement staff for the U.S. Open taking place from June 19-21.
It’s expected to draw thousands of fans to the region, centered on University Place along the south Puget Sound shores.
“It’s a big event,” Mielcarek said. “It takes a lot of people. And it’s a 24-hour-a-day event.
“We have a number of unique things we have to deal with,” he said.
First off, the golf course in University Place has a large shoreline. There are also the trains to watch as they travel through. There are a lot of “unique issues” that will have to be dealt with, Mielcarek said.
The size of the event and uniqueness of the landscape is why organizers need to make sure there is enough law enforcement on hand, Mielcarek notes. It will be a mix of local, state and federal government and even military personnel, he said.
Mielcarek could not comment on exactly where the added law enforcement will come from because he is still waiting to hear back from many agencies.
“We’re getting close,” he said.
At least one agency has responded, however. Deputies from Thurston County will be on hand during the event, according to a MOU obtained by MyNorthwest.
Thurston County will send 10 deputies, the Associated Press reported.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department will pay overtime costs for staff assigned to the event, according to the MOU. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department will cover those costs at a maximum of $72 per hour.
Agency staff can be assigned to on-course duty and traffic-related positions. Staff can be assigned to work eight- to 10-hour days, beginning June 14 and continuing through June 22, according to the MOU.
Many security positions will be staffed 24-hours a day, according to the MOU.
Staff from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has been working with the United States Golf Association since 2009. Mielcarek and other staff has observed golf events for the past several years to prepare for the June tournament.
Though the department is still waiting to hear back from several agencies, Mielcarek is confident things will come together.
“I think it will work out,” he said. Thurston County is an example of a good working relationship, he added.
