Kaitlin Fochesato of The Columbus Dispatch, wire reports and staff contributed to this story
COLUMBUS – The Columbus Chief of Police says security will be beefed up for this weekend’s Pride Festival, one of the largest in the Midwest.
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Extra uniformed and undercover officers are being assigned to the event, including extra officers on bikes, Chief Kim Jacobs (above) said Monday, though she declined to give exact numbers.
The agency also is monitoring private events at clubs being held in conjunction with Pride activities.
That announcement was in response to the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, last weekend that left 49 people dead — the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Jacobs says it’s important that people be able to come together for the Pride events and reminds them to be vigilant and report anything suspicious by calling 911.
This is not the day and age anymore to just assume that things will be OK,” she said.
Lori Gum, coordinator of the 35th annual Pride parade, said security has increased since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
“After the Boston tragedy, we, along with Columbus police and (Columbus Division of Fire), completely relooked at our security,” Gum said. “Every year we reassess the security.”