Gilroy Rodeo Beefs Up Security, Among Other Events

GILROY, CA — After over a week of grieving its loss of life, blood and innocence at its flagship event, the rodeo for this agricultural, ranching hub in southern Santa Clara County will go on starting Wednesday and ending Sunday.

But Gilroy Rodeo public safety officials have beefed up their security plan, adding credence to an already high-level contingency plan drawn out with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department for six months.

For starters, every side of the perimeter fence will be monitored by security. Before the Garlic Festival mass shooting, a 200-foot section had no security assigned.

But that was then, this is now reassured Public Safety Director Kurt Ashley, a retired officer who left the Gilroy Police Department three years ago and serves as a security consultant.

In addition, Ashley pledged that volunteers will use the security wand on every attendee and every bag will be searched as measures designed to "fill in a few gaps" and ensure the up to 6,500 spectators permitted to attend feel safe and have fun.

Witnessing decades of post-traumatic reactions, Ashley said he understands that some may want to sit out the idea of going out to have fun and feel good about it. If anything, survivors guilt may make those who escaped struggle to have fun again because others are unable.

"People have a huge span of emotions. We're going to do everything we can to make sure that people feel safe. We can't guarantee. No city is immune from this," Ashley told Patch. "But we gotta keep this thing going."

The stance fits in with the Gilroy Strong mantra many have said overcomes the tragedy that claimed four young lives including the gunman, injured 16 people and shook a community to its core.

Ashley's best advice is to talk to someone if PTSD sets in.

"Don't hold it in," he said.

Those needing a fun escape from the harsh realities of the hardened world will discover an outlet with the rodeo, which kicks off Wednesday with barrel racing and Thursday roping competitions. The festivities continue Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the main attractions characterized by bucking broncos, hard-core bulls and all that a rodeo implies for dusting off the boots, ranging from mutton busting to stick horse racing for the kids.

The weekend's activities start at 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. on Sunday at the rodeo grounds at 2365 Dunlap Ave.

This family-friendly event is packed with wild west action, food, shopping, music and dancing. It is time to dust off your boots. Tickets range from $10 to $20.

The Gilroy Rodeo isn't the first event since the tragic shooting in this small-town haven that Santa Clara County residents have had to rethink whether to attend events with crowds amid a mass shooting epidemic across the nation.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department provided a heavier-than-usual police presence to last weekend's county fair in San Jose, and the wine festival in Fremont tested law enforcement.

After all, this is the summer season, which is often packed with events in the San Francisco Bay Area. Then, there's the fall — a time for National Football League games. For instance, the San Francisco 49ers will host the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium this Saturday to launch the pre-season schedule.

The thin blue line is prepare to thicken its presence.

"We do a threat assessment and take into consideration the things that are happening in the region and nationally," Santa Clara Police Department Sgt. Todd Cummins told Patch. "With the stadium, we have to think internationally."

"We have to consider what happened at Gilroy, and that becomes a part of our security plan," Cummins said.

Since an NFL stadium is anchored in the city, the police force has an assembled division called the Homeland Security & Special Events detail that serves as a security intelligence database that acknowledges every type of threat and how to avert it.

That's where the secrets end.

"We don't want to give someone a roadmap of what we're doing," he said.

The police department issued a campaign following the shooting called "If You See Something, Say Something!" It asks that community members remain aware of their surroundings much like most security teams and police forces requested after 9/11. Suspicious activity reported will be fielded through 911 or by calling 408-615-5580 for non-emergency situations.

The measures are meant to guard against any potential threat because to law enforcement it's always better to be safe than sorry.

"To think in the past, we were criticized for having such a heavy police presence at the Garlic Festival," Gilroy Police Capt. Joseph Deras said.

The safety measures serve to help with alleviating more physical trauma and emotional strain many experience after such tragedy. Given three veteran officers responded immediately to the suspected shooter who the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner deems took his own life, there seems to be no doubt the criticism will end.

"We're all struggling to get through each day. Time will tell. We're fortunate we have the resources to help with the different stages of grief we're going through," Visit Gilroy Executive Director Jane Howard told Patch. "We're asking people to focus on (the festival) prior to the incident."

It's difficult to know where Garlic Festival organizers go from here. Organizers have been unavailable for comment.

See also

• Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting: 3 Victims, Suspect Identified
• Candlelight Vigil Pays Homage To Victims Of Gilroy Shooting
• Gilroy Garlic Festival Vendor Decompressing From Loss
• Duo Injured In Gilroy Festival Shooting 'Happy To Be Alive'
• 3 Heroic Gilroy Officers Who Took Down Suspect Identified
• Candlelight Vigil Brings Gilroy Together