More officers on hand for Mizzou Homecoming Parade security

After protests delayed part of Mizzou’s 2015 Homecoming Parade, there will be more law enforcement officers on hand to handle any possible disturbance.

The University of Missouri Police Department will have support from Columbia police and Boone County deputies.

MUPD Major Brian Weimer said they looked at experiences from previous years to start their planning for this year.

“From that we’ve been working with the city of Columbia Police Department and Boone County Sheriff’s Department to ensure we have officers and deputies that will be here to help make sure everybody is safe throughout the parade,” Weimer said.

Weimer could not confirm how many law enforcement officers will be on duty for parade security because that could compromise the plans they have made. He did confirm they will have more officers available.

“We have more officers that will be there this year obviously because of events that occurred last year,” Weimer said. “Overall we also have additional officers that will be on for bike and stuff due to game times and those type of things.”

Following the protests in 2015 that blocked the parade route for about 10 minutes, Weimer said they have given their officers guidance on how to respond if a similar situation were to occur. The steering committee has also advised their volunteers on the procedures if a similar situation were to happen this year.

Weimer said this year they have also ensured they will have enough officers working the campus area and the parade simultaneously.

“As you can imagine, with the football game going on, we are dealing with the parking lots and those things,” Weimer said. “So it’s a lot to cover but our guys are up to the task.”

Weimer said the public should know his officers do have plans in place to keep them safe during the Homecoming events.

“The No. 1 thing we are out there for is their safety,” Weimer said. “So if something were to happen, it may disrupt the parade for a very short period of time. Keeping everybody safe is the No. 1 goal. The other thing is don’t get involved in any incident like that if it occurs. Just allow the officers to show up and do their job to make sure everyone remains safe.”