Police Prep Security For Taste Of Chicago

Photo Credit: www.festivalpreview.com

• Police will staff the four designated access points to the festival and illegal items will be confiscated and unruly attendees will be turned away.
• A security emphasis at CTA and Metra stations and Pace bus stops.
• An increase in uniformed and plainclothes officers
• Police will be monitoring security cameras near the festival and citywide.

Speaking to the press, Weis promised, "Folks will feel very safe because they're going to see a police officer on almost every block, and in some instances 20 feet, so we're going to have a very hard presence in terms of letting people know we have a lot of officers in place." The Sun-Times adds:

Weis said the department is learning from past "mistakes" and will keep a vigilant eye on "troublemakers."

Most law-abiding Taste visitors won't even notice a difference from past years, he said.

There will be designated entryways -- at Monroe, Jackson, Congress and Balbo -- so officers and security personnel can get "get a good eye of people coming in," he said.

Mentioning there would be nothing like metal detectors, Weis also said, "It is not going to be a police state." The Taste of Chicago kicks off today and runs through next Sunday, July 5th. Check out our food preview here.