Pasadena Police Boosts Security Plan for Rose Parade

By City News Service

Police plan to use bomb-sniffing dogs and wide-ranging video surveillance as part of a Rose Parade security plan developed after the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three and injured 260, it was reported Tuesday.

Police officials said the Pasadena Police Department has been working for months analyzing national tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombings. Additionally officers have negotiated with business owners for full-time access to private security cameras.

"All eyes will be on Pasadena that day," Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said in remarks reported by the Pasadena Star-News.

Sanchez urged the hundreds of thousands of expected spectators to be vigilant.

"If one of the paradegoers sees something suspicious, and what I mean by that is they walk up and put a bag down and they walk away from that bag, have the courage and the insight and the willingness to engage and call that to the attention of local law enforcement officers," he said.

Police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said the department has spent months working with businesses along the parade route to encourage them to tell their customers that if they "see something, say something." She also said police have coordinated with business owners so the department will have 24-hour access to their private security cameras if they are needed.

Sanchez said 1,100 to 1,200 uniformed and covert officers will patrol the parade route. Also, more bomb sniffing dogs will be used. The dogs have the capacity to detect "suspicious incendiary devices," Sanchez said, urging spectators to arrive early and "bring plenty of patience." He issued a reminder that alcohol is not allowed along the parade route.