APD Annual Reports - 2014 Annual Report | Page 8

POLICE DEPARTMENT SpecialEvents Arlington’s Entertainment District is the crown jewel of the region and draws millions of visitors from around the globe to enjoy some of the best sports franchises, amusement parks, and world-renowned shopping and dining experiences. The Arlington Police Department has a dedicated unit that helps manage the events that occur in this expansive region. The Homeland Security and Special Events Unit is responsible for determining the staffing model that allows large events to occur without any major hiccups. They also review all special event permits, meet regularly with event organizers, and bridge the gap between event planning and public safety services. In 2014, multiple significant events were held in Arlington’s Entertainment District. The Final Four set a NCAA basketball attendance record at the billion-dollar home of the Dallas Cowboys. Extensive planning was required to ensure smooth ingress and egress traffic routes to the stadium as well as adequately staffing law enforcement resources for such a large-scale event. It takes months to properly plan for an event of this magnitude. The traffic management plan and public safety operational plan in ٽ