Safety Leaders to Discuss Final Four Security

• By Matt Holden
• Mar 31, 2015

Indianapolis Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indianapolis Fire Department and more will gather to talk about a security plan regarding the Final Four.

Law enforcement will be inside a security hub at the intersection of Georgia St. and Pennsylvania Ave., monitoring everything happening in downtown Indianapolis from Lucas Oil Stadium to the White River State Park.

The March Madness Music Festival is free this year, meaning there will be much larger crowds than in events past. There is also a concern of rallying and protesting regarding the recently-signed Religious Freedom Law that may interfere with festivities and block traffic.

Law enforcement will also be monitoring social media, and Indianapolis Homeland Security Chief Gary Coons says fans should speak up if something doesn’t seem right either in person or on social media.

“We are there. We’re asking people if they do have an issue, just to tell a police officer, tell a firefighter, tell an EMT. Whoever you see — a paramedic that may be out there — [tell them] that you need assistance or something just doesn’t seem right. Just let them know and we’ll take care of it,” said Coons.

Law enforcement will also be at a security station in White River State Park, at Lucas Oil and at the Regional Operations Center on the city’s east side. Homeland Security, IMPD, the FBI, ATF and other local police departments from all over the state will be in Indianapolis making sure everything goes smoothly.

“We have no significant threats, we have no credible threats, that has come forth. We work closely with our FBI and our state and fusion center and they continue to monitor any kind of threat that could come to an event like this and there are no credible threats at this time,” said Coons.