Representatives from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be in the NewsCenter to take questions about the upcoming Wakarusa Festival and this weekend’s law enforcement.

was_freashpowder

are the lawrence police going to be out this year breaking more civil rights laws , like they did last year ?

and if so how are you going to handle it ?

l_town_playa

What types of substances are illegal at Wakarusa?

l_town_playa

Will you be arresting cannabis smokers for personal possession?

jniccum

Which of the rules established at the park are patrons most likely to break?

shollins

What year had the most arrests made related to the Wakarusa Festival?

DennisAnderson

How much will law enforcement overtime cost Douglas County residents?

LindseySlater

How will severe weather affect the plan for patrolling officers?

l_town_playa

What other law enforcement agencies are targeting the festival? Will DEA be present?

KURocks

Can anything be done to make it easier for park pass holders to get into the park who are not attending the Wak fest, but wanting to go to the marina?.

le

I need cash…will you be hiring any heavily tattooed people to make drug buys at the festival? I despise drug use but I could easily make a ton of buys for you! And I am out of work and looking (I could even do you some good on the streets) for something to do for a few weeks or more if ya pay well enough! How do I contact someone to find out if I can be of use to you guys? I have done some case scenario training with cal. P.D. in the past and have done many many ride alongs!

le

Send me a E-mail if you wanna consider me for drug buys! If you don`t wanna tip the hat that a heavily tattooed guy will be making buys..I would be glad to offer my services! Jackthetattoomaniac@gmail.com or call 1-785-865-6801 leave a message and I will call back immediatley!

beekone

Based on the negative publicity from last year’s overkill drug enforcement, what changes are being made to this year’s enforcement? Will there still be undisclosed checkpoints or are we choosing to welcome visitors this year?

It may be worth noting that a pat down is not the same thing as a hug.

le

How does this work? I sent a coupla messages early…..did you get them?

l_town_playa

Will there be K-9 units on the ground within the festival grounds or on the roads leading to the festival?

TomKat

What is Douglas counties policy on nudeness? What can and what cannot festival goers wear?

beekone

The only thing anyone wants to know is if our overbearing drug enforcement is going to embarrass our town again?

cato_the_elder

Do the organizers of this event reimburse Douglas County for the additional law enforcement costs resulting from this event ?

Moderator

Welcome to today’s online chat. I’m reporter Lindsey Slater and I’ll be moderating today’s chat. We’ll be talking about Wakarusa Fest with Lt. Kari Wempe and Lt. Doug Woods of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Thanks for joining us today.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Thank you we appreciate the opportunity to answer some questions before the Wakarusa Music Fest begins.

Moderator

We have some reader submitted questions.

lounger

Will there be any out of sight camera’s?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

No, there will be no hidden camera on the festival grounds.

brijetterom

I have attented Wakarusa for the past three years, and I feel that it is a great thing for Douglas county. However, I understand that there are other things that maybe brought that are not. What is your plan to keep the festival Clean, without giving out uneeded MIP’s ? I feel that the main concern should be hard illicit drugs. And in my passed years It has not been that way. Additionally, how many officers do you plan to have in the festival and outside the festival?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies from DGSO and Troopers from Kansas Highway Patrol as well as Wildlife and Parks Officers will be patrolling the grounds of the festival in an effort to curb illegal activity. Agents from Alcohol Beverage Control will focus their law enforcement efforts on alcohol related offenses. The total number of law enforcement officers varies from day to day and shift to shift. Friday and Saturday shifts require additional manpower to keep the festival goers safe, manage crowds and curtail illegal activity. Outside of the festival the Sheriff’s Office will have normal staffing on patrol.

budwhysir

I am curious as to how much the additional security costs and if any of the extra costs come from tax payer money?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Wakarusa Festival promoters contract with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to provide a law enforcement presence at the festival. Little to no cost is incurred by tax payers.

l_town_playa

Will you be using K-9s and searching cars for contraband?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

We will have police service dogs on the grounds during the festival; they are also trained in ground disturbance tracking. Cars being searched as they enter the festival grounds are conducted by Wakarusa Music Festival security, not law enforcement.

Moderator

There is a possibility for severe weather during the festival. How will that affect the officers while they are on duty?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

The Sheriff’s Office maintains constant communication with Douglas County Emergency Operations Center for weather watches, warnings and advisories. Should the weather become an issue, special notifications will be made by officers using their patrol vehicles’ PA system to notify festival goers of possible weather conditions and appropriate action. We will also use the Festival’s stages to make those announcements.

ChristyLittle

How will traffic be managed this year? I’m worried about getting stuck in a long line to get in.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

The Festival promoters added additional ticket lanes as festival goers enter the festival along with addional staff to accomodate festival goes in a more efficient manner. This method was employed last year successfully and reduced the traffic back up to a minimum. The plan calls to keep to that same traffic pattern this year. Good question.

booze_buds_03

It is nice that you can warn us of severe impending weather. But what should festival goers do in the event of a tornado or baseball size hail like manhattan received the other day. Cars are technically the last place you should be, but that will probably be the only option?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

In the event of severe weather festival goers are encouraged to return to their vehicles until the storm passes. There is not adequate shelters at the state park for the amount of festival goers.

Moderator

Aside from the storms, what should festival attendees do to beat the heat?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Festival goers should be aware of Kansas heat and humidity. Everyone at the festival should stay hydrated ( water!) wear loose fitting clothing, wear hats, use insect repellant, use a high SPF lotion ( especially for the youngest festival goers) and reduce alcohol consumption. Simply just don’t overdo. There are medical staff at the festival should there be an emergency.

TomKat

Can I bring my own 4 wheeler out to the park? Is there a helmet law in Douglas County for recreation vehicles?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Recreational 4 wheelers are not allowed in the park at any time during the year.

booze_buds_03

Could you describe the officer presence in the campgrouds? Will they be doing 4-wheeler, bike, and walking, or will it be confined to mainly one type?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Law enforcement officers will be using bicycles, foot patrol, as well as using golf carts and possibly all terrain vehicles in the campgrounds and concert venues to keep all attendees safe.

desinr

During the Wakarusa Festival, there always seems to be a greater pedestrian presence downtown. What steps are Law Enforcement agencies taking to police the downtown area during the festival? Will patrolling the festival and downtown simultaneously lessen or diminish police coverage for the rest of Lawrence?

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Downtown Lawrence is patrolled by officers of the Lawrence Police Department. Lawrence Police Department patrol officers are not assigned to the festival and therefore this will not diminish police coverage to the rest of Lawrence.

Moderator

That’s all the time we have for today. Thanks for coming in and we’ll see you at Wakarusa.