No More Free Taxpayer Subsidized LE For Riverbend

[Police Moderator]

Chattanooga's Riverbend Festival to hire private security
by Beth Burger

Chattanooga police officers will not be working security on the Riverbend Festival grounds this year, police Chief Bobby Dodd said Tuesday.

"They have private security," Dodd said.

Traditionally, more than 100 officers work the Tennessee riverfront site at the festival that features live music acts and activities.

About 30 Hamilton County sheriff's deputies work the event, as well.

Read more: times free press

Kudos to Chief Dodd, and his Command Staff, for judiciously serving, and saving $, for the taxpaying citizens of Chattanooga, and Hamilton County.

I've always wondered (After having worked Riverbend for 25+ years, on taxpayer funded overtime)(Thanks for that $$$$ Chip Baker and the FOF!) how anyone could reasonably explain to me why a private entity, was afforded free, taxpayer supported, professional, trained and experienced law enforcement in a venue, and for a corporation, that has been granted, for 25+ years, exemptions from Chattanooga City Code for 10 days every summer.

Walden Security? At least Chip won't have to deal so much with the underage drinking thing at Riverbend, as he has been forced to do in the past. Private Security, et al, tend to overlook that sort of drinking under age thing when the profit margin becomes involved!

[Half-Tard]

hope it rains every night. selfish bastards friends of the festival, friends like that you need no enemies,

[augie47]

There is now a Plan B
www.chattanoogan.com/2013/5/9/250878/Changes-In-Riverbend-Security-Plan-Announced.aspx

[JC]

Unarmed security? This will be entertaining

[Half-Tard]

Chips got $190,000 reasons not to properly protect the taxpayers/patrons who come to his party. Be sure to volunteer. Get a pin and a tacky T shirt. We can't afford to pay Chip if we don't have volunteers. he's barely getting by $190,000 don't go far on the mountain.

littlechicagowatch.com/2013/05/corporate-welfare-for-friends-of-the-festival/

[Deleted]

New social experiment: No security; just ambulances.

[Police Moderator]

New social experiment: No security; just ambulances.

Thankfully the EMS professionals at the Baroness will be standing by.

But, now, it seems, after Mr. Baker got caught with his Day-Glo 'Volunteer' thong exposed and had to cut into his well endowed salary to provide 'security' for his personal drunk fest.

Kudos to Chief Dodd, Sheriff Hammond, Mayors Burke and Coppinger for charging politically well connected folks for services rendered.

[Kordax]

Who "owns" Riverbend festival? Is it the City/County or a combination of governmental agencies, is it Friends of the Festival or a combination of local not-for-profits? Identifying whose festival it is makes a difference in how it's managed. If government doesn't own it, seems like there's a whole bunch of past due bills (including but not limited to security issues) that could be sent to a collection agency. If government doesn't own it, seems like a host of lawsuits claiming elements of discrimination need to be remedied with $$$ (all the festivals /events the past 30 yrs that never received similar government accommodations)....