Law enforcement officials are ramping up their presence during the NCAA tournament in Wichita.
The Wichita Police Department says it’s been preparing its safety and traffic control plan for months leading up to this week’s events.
Between 30 and 40 officers will be on duty during two shifts. Officers will patrol areas in Old Town and around Intrust Bank Arena on foot, on bike, on horse and on ATV.
About 15,000 to 25,000 people are expected at the tournament. Deputy Chief Troy Livingston says it’s one of the biggest events the police department has ever worked.
“We kind of liken this to Riverfest. The operational plan is very similar," he said during a briefing last week. "We plan for a lot of different contingencies to provide a wide variety of services depending on the situation.”
Officers will also be watching for illegal ticket sales.
The Wichita Police Department worked with the fire department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, and officials from Intrust Bank Arena and the NCAA to develop its security plan.
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