Lafayette police are out in force, as planned, as Festival International de Louisiane Festival International de Louisiane returns to downtown Lafayette for its 40th year this week.
The city police department’s plan for keeping festivalgoers, musicians and merchants safe is unchanged in the wake of the arrest Wednesday of a at a New Orleans festival.
Law enforcement did not specify which festival was the alleged target, but the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is underway this weekend and next.
Christopher Gillum, a former police officer, was arrested at a Destin, Florida, hotel with a handgun and around 200 rounds of ammunition. He was allegedly on his way to New Orleans to execute a mass shooting and planned to die at the hands of police.
Lafayette Police Sgt. Robin Green, public information officer, said Thursday that when the department prepared its safety plan for Festival International it planned for hypothetical scenarios like an armed attack.
She assured those involved in the festival that Lafayette Police will be out in force throughout the festival, with many officers in uniform and some not in uniform.
LPD said it will increase its presence throughout downtown and deploy additional cameras to monitor crowds during the festival.
First aid and medical stations will be located across the festival area, and police said officers will be stationed at the fire station at Vermilion Street and Lee Avenue to assist with missing children.
Officials encouraged attendees to sign up for emergency alerts by texting “Join LFTalert” to 31002.
Police also urged festivalgoers to travel in groups, remain in well-lit areas and secure their vehicles by locking doors and removing valuables from sight.
Parking is expected to be limited, and officials recommend using the festival shuttle. Several parking garages will have restricted access during the event, including Parc Auto du Centreville, which will be closed to the general public beginning Wednesday evening and throughout the weekend.
Alternative parking will be available on surrounding streets and in private lots. Bike corrals will also be set up near the Lafayette Public Library.
Festival organizers ask attendees to leave pets at home due to noise and crowd conditions. Ice chests, glass containers and tents are prohibited, while lawn chairs, blankets, wagons and handheld umbrellas are allowed.
Officials also encouraged attendees to stay hydrated and plan for possible disruptions to cellphone service by designating meeting points in advance.
Police reminded the public not to drink and drive and to use a designated driver or ride-sharing service if consuming alcohol.
Festival organizers and law enforcement will provide updates through the Festival International app and social media channels.