California Police Prepare Security Plan for Coachella

California Police Prepare Security Plan for Coachella

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Apr 15, 2016

When someone thinks about Coachella, the popular music festival set over two weekends in Indio, California, security usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Music, dancing and fashion are big topics of the event but mass notification and access control usually are not at the forefront of the minds of the attendees. For police, however, they’ve been thinking about Coachella security for over six months.

Due to recent world events in Paris, Brussels and even closer to home in San Bernardino, Indio police are taking extra precautions to ensure that the attendees are at no more of a threat while at the event than any other place they would normally be.

The event sells over 100,000 tickets for shows spanning over a two-weekend time period, so big crowds are unavoidable. Police say they aren’t worried about the amount of people attending, in fact, they believe that because of the crowds the event will be easier to secure.

“In some ways, bigger events are protected better because they occur at a particular time at a particular place,” director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, Brian Levin said. “That allows authorities to allocate personnel at key times.”

The Indio Police Department will be teaming up with other local law enforcement to remain adequately staffed for the event. They will be patrolling the perimeter of the event as well as placing themselves within the event to look out for suspicious activity. They will also be patrolling shuttle stations, local hotels and even throughout the city.

This year, police will be implementing a mass notification system via smartphone texting. Authorities will be able to send text alerts to festival-attendees and the general public in the area containing important information about traffic, safety, weather and emergency situations. Users of the app, Nixle, can text “Coachella” to 888777 to sign up for the service.

“We really want everyone to get in tune with the pulse of what’s going on,” said Sgt. Dan Marshall, Indio Police spokesman. “Our number one concern is public safety.”

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.