Arlington Police prepping for World Cup threats, on the ground and in the sky
Local officials fully expect a million or so people to descend upon Dallas-Fort Worth this month for the nine World Cup matches in Arlington.
While most of those visitors are coming with good intentions, there’s always the possibility that bad actors will take advantage of the crowds and commotion to cause damage and inflict harm.
For months, area cities have been preparing security plans that anticipate a wide range of potential threats, including those most soccer fans might not consider.
Tim Ciesco, an Arlington police spokesman, said uniformed officers will be out in force this month making themselves visible in and around the Arlington entertainment district, which encompasses AT&T Stadium, where nine matches are scheduled, beginning Sunday with Netherlands-Japan. The final match at the stadium is a semifinal on July 14.
There will also be plainclothes officers in the area, along with others posted in strategic areas monitoring the crowds. Additionally, there’s a plan to combat aerial threats.
Arlington police have worked with federal law enforcement to expand the city’s drone security protocols. During World Cup matches, there will be a three-mile-radius no-fly zone around the stadium, up to 30,000 feet. Anyone caught operating a drone in that zone will be subject to fines up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges.
Ciesco said those precautions are not in response to any specific drone-related threat, but the police department has to plan for all scenarios.
Skysafe will provide drone detection technology in Arlington during the World Cup. Melissa Swisher, the company’s chief revenue officer, said Skysafe sensors and software will allow law enforcement to locate and track unauthorized drones and their operators, as well as pull the flight history for drones to see where they’d previously flown.
A geofence will surround the Arlington no-fly zone, Swisher said, and police will be alerted to any drones that enter that area.
Swisher said the worry isn’t necessarily that someone will use a drone to attack fans or venues. It’s more that criminals could use drones for reconnaissance to identify targets and see where police officers are stationed.
Drones can travel at speeds up to around 40 mph, Swisher added, so it’s important that law enforcement be able to quickly identify them and determine their intentions.
Ciesco said Arlington police already ban drones from flying over the entertainment district during sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings. If drone operators breach that airspace, police will locate them and speak with them, though Ciesco said most breaches are innocent mistakes.
But if anyone did have malicious intent during the World Cup, Ciesco said the federal agencies assisting Arlington police have the ability to intercept drones and take them down.
Swisher said she didn’t want to scare people when discussing drone threats. It’s not something that should deter anyone from attending an event or venturing into a crowded area. But it is something law enforcement should be cognizant of.
“Drones are part of the public safety landscape now,” Swisher said. “Just like cybersecurity became part of the security landscape.”
Similarly, Ciesco didn’t want to instill fear in anyone. “We anticipate the World Cup is going to be a safe, fun event for everybody.”