Kansas City Takes Precautions for Big 12 Tournament

Kansas City, Mo., is stepping up security for this week’s Big 12 Conference men’s basketball tournament

• By Jessica Davis
• Mar 14, 2019

Tens of thousands of basketball fans are expected to descend on downtown Kansas City, Mo. this week for the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball tournament, and local officials have stepped up security to keep everyone safe.

"We have placed cameras all throughout the Power and Light District," said Sgt. Patrick Rauzi with the Kansas City Police Department's Patrol Bureau Special Projects.

According to Rauzi, the increased security helps protect people but also helps keep traffic moving efficiently.

"Usually at major intersections to watch traffic flow, pedestrian flow, so we can monitor those checkpoints," Rauzi said. "So, if pedestrians aren't able to get through or cars aren't getting through."

Security cameras are present all over downtown. During the last year, police installed 360-degree cameras that can be monitored by officers back at the station.

"They can relay information to the field officers on the ground that they might not be able to see where they are standing," Rauzi said. "But those eyes in the sky can help direct them where there are problems or potentially problems going to occur."

Officers are also able to monitor the situation from their smartphones.

"A lot of officers can view it on their phones, if they want," Rauzi said. "Most of them watch it on their in-car computer in their police cars."

Rauzi said the main goal is to keep people safe.

"We prepare in advance. We come up with a plan months in advance," Rauzi said. "We prepare for this so we are prepared and ready and everyone knows what their job is."