SPOKANE, Wash – The Spokane Police Department is increasing patrols ahead of the Men’s NCAA Championship at the Spokane Arena. Lt.Terry Preuninger from the Spokane Police Department says they have prepared and are ready for an influx of basketball fans in Hooptown, USA.
“There’s a heightened need there to make sure that we provide enough just protection and security for the places that people are staying and then the places that they are going,” Lt. Preuninger said.
Lt. Preuninger said SPD would be taking a layered approach that includes a visible police presence, undercover officers, electronic surveillance, and specialty units like the special weapons and tactics team and explosive disposal unit in key locations.
Matt Meyer, the Director of Entertainment at the Spokane Arena, said their security team and law enforcement have a key partnership to ensure those on and off the court are safe. ” We’re working with law enforcement locally, both regionally, to make sure all the teams, the spectators, everybody coming in through the buildings are taken care of.”
For those worried that increased patrol around the arena could interfere with the city’s day-to-day needs, Lt. Preuninger told NonStop Local that this shouldn’t be an issue: “We do a really good job of bringing in extra resources to not take away from the people that live in Spokane and live in our different neighborhoods who expect when they pick up the phone and call the police to have somebody arrive.”
However, at the end of the day, he says this weekend is all about what Hooptown USA does best: cheering on those on the court. ” Make good decisions and be safe and be smart, but come down and enjoy those different functions because again, it’s not something that happens all the time.”
