Item #5 Safety preparedness SXSW 2024 — original pdf

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SXSW Conference & Spring Festivals 2024 Austin Police Department – Downtown Area Command SXSW OVERVIEW • March 8th - March 16th, 2024 • The 2023 SXSW Conference & Festivals and SXSW EDU drew approximately 345,066 people • ~60 venues have authorized SXSW Activations • Numerous unauthorized activations STAFFING • DTAC Days: Staffed at 100% + for the duration of SXSW. • DTAC Evenings/Nights: Staffed at 100% + for the duration of SXSW. • Inside 6th - Designated patrol area inside the 6th Street/Red River enclosure. (Call takers). • Outside 6th - Designated patrol area outside the 6th Street enclosure • Additional patrols for Congress Ave, Warehouse District, W 6th St District, and Rainey District. DTAC Call Takers • Overtime officers are hired to support call taking duties outside 6th St/Red River closure. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES • Standard police operations • Street Closures/Barricade Officers – APD/Other Central Texas LE Agencies • Towing enforcement Shifts • Additional Call taking Shifts • PACE Teams – Code Enforcement • Traffic Congestion Shift • Sound Enforcement – 2 officers per day A TEAM EFFORT • In addition to the officers assigned to the Downtown Area Command, officers from all over the department will assist during Spring Festival Season to ensure public safety throughout the event: • Counter Assault Strike Team (CAST) • Mounted • EOD (Bomb Squad) • Special response Team (SRT) • Organized Crime Division (OCD) • Metro Tactical Units 2023 SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON VIOLENT CRIME INITIATIVE The 2023 Spring Festival Season Violent Crime Initiative was a joint effort from the Austin Police Department (APD) Violent Crimes Interdiction Unit, Organized Crime Division, Tactical Intelligence Unit, and Metro Tactical Units, the Downtown Area Command and the Special Response Team. The initiative ran between March 8th - March 18th, 2023. This initiative yielded: • 131 Arrests/61 Seized Firearms • Seized Narcotics: 3.5 kg cocaine, 26.6 kg of methamphetamine, 41.38 g fentanyl/heroin, and 90 pounds of marijuana. From March 15th – March 18th,2023 (last weekend on E 6th St/Red River St) the Special Response Team and the Downtown Area Command had : • 77 Arrests/26 Seized Firearms • Seized Narcotics: 26.69 g cocaine, 31.32 g methamphetamine, 8.15g fentanyl UNIFIED COMMAND • SXSW Representatives • Austin PD • Austin FD • ATCEMS • COA Homeland Security Emergency Management (HSEM) • COA Transportation • COA Code Enforcement • COA Public Information Office (PIO) • Austin Regional Intelligence Center (ARIC) PUBLIC SAFETY AREA MERIDIAN HEAVY BARRICADES APD will be utilizing mobile heavy barricades to protect pedestrians inside of the public safety closure areas from vehicular traffic. 911 vs. 311 When should someone call 911? • There is an imminent threat to life or property. • There is injury that requires immediate medical attention. • There is injury stemming from an assault, regardless of timeframe. • When a suspect involved in a crime is on scene of the incident or within sight. • Important: If you are unsure whether to call 911 or 311, you should call 911 and let a trained operator route the call appropriately. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING Public safety and security is everyone's responsibility. If you see suspicious activity, report it to local law enforcement or a person of authority.