Tighter Security at Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game

Pasadena Chief of Police Phillip Sanchez said Wednesday at a City Hall press conference that his Department intends to make the Rose Parade on Monday, January 2 “the most secure event in the U.S.” and is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of everyone going to watch the parade and the Rose Bowl Game, as well as the parallel events that happen yearly in conjunction with the Tournament of Roses.

Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez revealed that over 1,500 law enforcement officers will be deployed to prevent any possible attacks, although to date there are no known credible threats. The number will include both uniformed officers and those undercover.

This year in light of the terrorist truck attacks in Europe “the Pasadena Police Department has worked to develop strategies and tactics to prevent or otherwise mitigate vehicle incursions,” Sanchez said.

Police will also install barricades and metal detectors where necessary, and deploy more K-9 units to secure the parade routes and entry and exits points to all the collateral events.

The department will be working with federal agencies traditionally assigned to help secure the Tournament of Roses. Among these are the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and other agencies.

Secret Service Special Agent Rob Savage said many things “will be visible and obvious to the public” while many other things that the different agencies do will not need to be advertised or announced to the public.

The Tournament of Roses has published earlier reminders about conduct at the different venues especially with regards to safety and security. The Rose Bowl will implement a clear bag policy for all events there and will confiscate bags and other containers that do not conform with the policy.

Random bag searches may also be possible along the Rose Parade route and at the entrances to the Rose Bowl.