KC runs its largest security drill yet for World Cup
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
More than 200 law enforcement officers ran a World Cup security exercise Tuesday at the National World War I Museum and Memorial.
Why it matters: It was a large-scale, real-time training session for the people who will be keeping Fan Fest attendees safe this summer.
The big picture: Local, state and federal agencies played out an exercise involving actors, responders, observers and evaluators.
- The goal was to test communications and rapid-response coordination.
Between the lines: Reporters were not allowed to watch the exercise for security reasons.
What they're saying: Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at the event that Fan Fest will have a layered security screening approach for people and vehicles.
- KCPD personnel have traveled to soccer matches in other countries to study how to handle security at that scale, Graves said.
Context: KC has received more than $79 million from the federal government for World Cup public safety enhancements, including money for additional officers, overtime pay and a tech system designed to counter hostile drones.
- And KCPD is using drones as additional first responders.
What to expect: At the World Cup, "you will see a heightened presence of law enforcement," Mayor Quinton Lucas said at the event, adding the city will continue to respond to residents' 911 calls.
- KCMO's budget for this year includes money for additional call takers and dispatchers.
The bottom line: "We're doing a lot of work to make sure that we understand fan behaviors," Lindsey Douglas, chief operations officer of KC2026, tells Axios, adding that they want attendees to feel safe.