Atlanta Police will be out in full force from early til late this Fourth of July to protect 60,000 runners, 200,000 road race spectators, and tens of thousands fireworks viewers.
The price to Atlanta taxpayers? About $900,000. What does it buy? Peace of mind.
“There are no credible threats at this time,” said Atlanta Police Chief George Turner Tuesday when asked about security at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. “We have prepared for the absolute worst.”
The workday will start with the road race in the morning and end with the fireworks at Centennial Olympic Park, Lenox Square Mall and Turner Field.
Turner noted that there would be about 500 police officers, including Georgia State Patrol, downtown as well as security cameras filming the entire race route. The filming will start Wednesday and the police will “take possession” of the route by midnight the Fourth of July.
Traffic will be allowed through until about 5 a.m. The route will have temporary fencing with specific access points. Manhole covers on route are being secured.
Police are also planning for a secured finish line — which means for licensed firearm carriers, no packing in that specific area — in fact the police would appreciate no packing at all.
“We feel there are enough law enforcement officers to deal with any issue that comes up,” said Turner. “This is a family fun event.”
He also asked that anyone carrying backpacks to make sure they are transparent for security reasons.
The chief noted that the department had a solid year of security planning for this road race — unlike the rush job it had to do last year after the disastrous bombing at the Boston Marathon.
He noted last year’s rain proved helpful from a crowd-control standpoint but forecasts don’t promise that assistance this year.
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