DETROIT (WWJ) — Thursday marks one week until the NFL Draft, expected to bring hundreds of thousands of fans to Downtown Detroit April 25-27.
While excitement has been building for months, Detroit police officials are putting the finishing touches on security plans for the draft. Chief James White on Thursday held a press conference detailing those plans, joined by law enforcement partners from a number of local, state and federal agencies.
While White did not detail precise deployment plans, he said Detroit police will be “working together collaboratively” with Wayne and Oakland County sheriff’s deputies, the Michigan State Police, the FBI, ATF and Homeland Security to make sure it’s a safe event.
White made it abundantly clear that any draft-related areas will be a weapons-free zone.
“This is a gun-free, weapons-free event. CPL or otherwise, you are not to bring a weapon into this event,” White said at a press conference. “The entire footprint and the outside of the footprint will be monitored for weapons.”
That strategy, White said, has been discussed at great length with Assistant Police Chief Charles Fitzgerald, the crime intelligence center and other officials.
“We are committed, we are excited for our city. We are on an international stage, and I’m excited for the city of Detroit to show the world that we are prepared both with law enforcement and community to have a safe and welcoming event,” White said.
As all the different agencies work together, Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington described their efforts as “one band, one sound.”
MSP officials plan to have 50 troopers helping draft security efforts each day during the draft, as well as K9 units, bomb squads and emergency support teams on standby. The MSP operations center will be monitoring crowds throughout the event.
The Detroit Fire Department will have four stationary medical tents, as well as six ambulances and fire inspectors patrolling the draft footprint.
Detroit police have instituted a number of road closures ahead of the draft, with several more phases of closures still to come before the event.
Officials on Thursday announced Big Sean and Bazzi will be the headlining acts for the Draft Concert Series, while a fireworks show will take place Saturday night after festivities conclude.