Following fatal assaults on crowds in Las Vegas and New Orleans on New Year’s Day, Detroit police say they intend to increase security at this weekend’s eagerly awaited Lions game and the approaching auto show.
During an annual crime statistics presentation Friday, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said that federal and tri-county law enforcement agencies will bolster protection in and around Ford Field as the Lions and Vikings compete for the NFC North title on Sunday night. “I think everyone understands we’re going to take every precaution possible,” Duggan stated. “We don’t have any threats or anything like that, but we just thought it was prudent.”
According to interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison, visitors arriving downtown around the 8:20 p.m. game should “pack their patience” in anticipation of the extra security measures, which include the rerouting of some traffic. “It could be an inconvenience,” he stated. “It will be some disruption, it shouldn’t be too bad, but (people) will notice.”
According to Bettison, a long-time department employee and former deputy mayor of Detroit, the department has extensive experience coordinating interagency events. “This partnership here -— we have practiced together, we have the muscle memory from the NFL draft, we did the Super Bowl,” he stated. “We do large events well in the city of Detroit.”
Bettison stated that there would be “air coverage” and “marine” coverage in addition to additional foot patrols, but he would not elaborate. Similar heightened security measures will be used during the annual Detroit Auto Show, which takes place from January 10–20, according to officials.
An Army veteran who was allegedly affiliated with the Islamic terrorist organisation ISIS crashed a pickup truck into a throng on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early on Wednesday, killing 14 people and wounding dozens more. A few hours later, an active duty Green Beret committed himself outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas, just before the Tesla Cybertruck he was riding in exploded, leaving seven people injured. Fears of copycat actions at other events around the nation have been heightened by the attacks.