So, you want to know what it’s like to provide security for the Arts Festival during the day and overnight… Well, it’s really scary about 3 a.m. because it’s dark and most cops I know are a little leery of the dark. Just kidding! Actually, working the night shift is a bit disconcerting in that you find yourself driving or walking around looking for things that are odd or out of the ordinary. When that tent wall or entrance is moving around, is it because the wind is blowing, or did someone go inside? We find ourselves being extra vigilant after dark, because there have been times when we ended up arresting various nefarious ne’er-do-well’s. But our main goal is to make sure that participants, visitors and artists’ work are kept safe and secure.
Fortunately, the great masters tend not to attract too many sneak attacks. There are no “Picasso Bloods” or “Van Gogh Crips,” so the officers who work the event don’t usually have to deal with those types of issues. We do, however, concentrate on providing a safe, fun and friendly environment for all. Providing a safe environment is an officer’s primary duty. Most of the officers work a variety of assignments throughout the Division, but they especially love to work this event. The vast majority of them have worked the Festival for many years. Personally, I have had the privilege of working the Columbus Arts Festival in some capacity for nearly twenty years.
During that time I’ve seen some great shows and some shows where the forces of nature have wrecked havoc on the event, blowing entire tents off a downtown bridge and into the Scioto River. I’ve seen some of those ne’er-do-wells I mentioned earlier try to “liberate items” from artists. However, from a security standpoint, we have shown that extra vigilance and attention to detail and have avoided any real problems with thefts or damages.
I do recall one occasion a couple of years ago at the old downtown site where an individual had a little too much to drink and was brought to his knees in abject terror because he saw a “15 foot monster” and a big bear staring at him as he tried to stumble through the Festival site. The monster and bear were real of sorts – they were made out of a whole bunch of nails and were on display and for sale at an artist’s booth. I’m not sure, but I think the fellow stopped drinking that very moment.
Providing security for the event has been fun and educational. I, as well as other officers, have often purchased various pieces of art because we fell in love with the exceptional work that we saw. So you may rest assured that the Columbus Division of Police is vigilant and working hard to help you have a great and safe show.
Sgt. Robert L. Stewart is part of the special-duty force that works the Columbus Arts Festival each year. We love our special duty officers, who work on the Festival’s behalf outside their duties in the city’s Division of Police.
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