Atlanta working to keep College Playoff championship game safe
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For the first time in 10 years, the Ohio State Buckeyes are in the National Championship, meaning fans from Columbus and all over Ohio will head to Atlanta to see the game.
With more than 100,000 people expected to visit, Atlanta’s mayor and police chief said safety is priority number one.
In a safety briefing on Tuesday, Chief Darin Schierbaum said his officers will be working around the clock through Monday’s game.
“We’ve been planning for months and when this weekend arrives, every agency that you see behind me and around me will have officers and investigators and agents spread and troopers spread throughout the downtown area as we keep the event safe,” Schierbaum said.
The top message from officials in the briefing was that all fans should keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, especially after the terrorist attack in New Orleans just two weeks ago.
“It has again been our job to plan, but it’s everyone’s responsibility again to if you see something, to say something,” Deputy Chief Charles Hampton with APD’s Special Events Division said. “This is our event. The nation will be watching and we want to make sure that all our visitors, our residents are here and enjoying themselves.”
“If a vehicle, if an individual, if a package does not look right, call 911, flag down one of the individuals in uniform that you will see around,” Schierbaum added.
Schierbaum said before the attack in New Orleans, concerning videos were posted on social media. He is imploring everyone, not just people in Atlanta or those going to the game, to be on the lookout for suspicious social media posts.
“So it’s just not see something, say something around you when you’re in downtown Atlanta,” he said. “If you see something online that is someone saying they are going to harm this event or bring harm to our country, report that right away.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Atlanta knows how to do big events and how to keep everyone safe as they attend those events. He said the matchup between the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish is no different and fans from Ohio and Indiana should feel safe coming to the city.
“This is a huge undertaking and I speak for all of us when I say we will not rest until all of our residents and visitors leave safe with a positive experience and great stories to tell when they get back home,” Dickens said.
Schierbaum said Tuesday that his team took another look at the safety plans after the attack in New Orleans. He said they’ll have their K9s sweep the stadium before the game and bomb squads will be ready to go at all times.