MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Gates opening for this year’s Beale Street Music Festival reminds some in the community of this time last year, when crowds were on edge.
Last April, a shooting happened in Tom Lee Park just weeks before Memphis in May.
WREG checked with Memphis Police to see what it has been doing this year to keep the park safe.
“We’ve kind of pumped it up a little bit this year,” said Col. Gloria Bullock, Commander of North Main Station. “We’re doing the best we can, preventative measures to say that we are there and that we welcome people to come down and enjoy Tom Lee Park, because it’s a beautiful park.”
Last April, a fight led to gunfire injuring three people.
Two of the victims were reportedly bystanders.
That was just weeks ahead of the festival.
Bullock told WREG police have tried to up their presence in the park with SkyCop cameras, officers, and mounted patrols.
“We’ve had some complaints of cruising and loud noises and maybe some people misbehaving in the park, and we wanted to make our presence known,” Bullock said.
The numbers show Memphis Police actually responded to one more call at Tom Lee Park this April compared to the same time last year.
There were 34 police calls in April 2015 and 35 in April 2016.
Although it is possible police efforts prevented even more issues.
Police hope their presence in Tom Lee Park this spring set the stage for a safe Beale Street Music Festival.
Organizers are confident things will run smoothly.
“We have a 50 page security plan to cover anything that may happen,” said Memphis in May Director of Marketing Penelope Huston.
“We double, triple our man power down here to make sure that everything is safe,” Bullock said.