Mizzou officials begin security preparations for homecoming game

This weekend, law enforcement will be out in full force for the Mizzou Homecoming Football Game.

In light of violence on and around college campuses in recent days, ABC 17 looked into what security measures will be taken for the big game.

Parking lots open at 8:00 a.m. Saturday for the 70,000 people expected to attend the game. A security team will do a sweep of the stadium early in the morning with the MU Police Department’s bomb-sniffing dog.

“Of course we’d be looking for any type of explosive threat, but just any other problems that may exist to make the game go on safely,” Maj. Brian Weimer with MUPD said. “They check out things like the TV trucks and stuff like that to make sure that there’s no problems or issues.”

More than 100 officers from multiple law enforcement agencies will be working around Memorial Stadium. The Columbia Fire Department, medical personnel, Campus Facilities and the Joint Terrorism Task Force will also be at the game to make sure everything goes smoothly.

“The joint terrorism task force is throughout the United States, but we have members that’s up there to help us with intelligence information,” Weimer said.

The task force has helped at several other Mizzou home games, but it has been made aware of Thursday’s student anti-ISIS protest held on campus.

“We’re aware that there could be problem situations, activities at all times,” Weimer said. “Of course with the football game coming up, we’re always looking at that. It comes back to the Joint Terrorism Task Force and other things that we talked about to make sure. The information is being shared and those type of things to make sure that things run smoothly.”

At the front gates, security personnel will be checking bags to make sure no prohibited items are brought into the stadium. Some things guards are looking out for include weapons, laser lights, artificial noisemakers, large bags and outside food or beverages.