Detroit Police Confident In NFL Draft Safety Plan

DETROIT — Detroit Police will work with multiple other police agencies to help keep next week's NFL Draft in downtown safe for spectators.

Officials expect roughly 300,000 football fans to pack the downtown areas around Campus Martius Park next Thursday through Saturday. Detroit Police Chief James White said he is confident in the agencies safety plan for the event.

"This is a tremendous undertaking," White said during a Thursday press conference at Detroit Public Safety Headquarters. "But we're confident in our plan, which is built on experience managing large crowds."

White said Detroit Police will work with other police agencies, including the FBI, Michigan State Police and the Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county sheriff's offices, as well as the Windsor Police agency across the Ambassador Bridge.

"We will be out there in numbers. We have about 70 or so deputies that will be around the footprint of the NFL Draft," Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington said.

In addition, Michigan State Police said they'll be providing at least 50 troopers daily to help DPD patrol the downtown area.

Detroit Fire Department Commissioner Charles Simms added the department will have four stationary medical tents, six ambulances and fire inspectors patrolling around the footprint of the draft.

White reiterated the event is a gun-free event, weapons-free event, and that there will be weapon detectors at the draft entrances. He also added that only clear bags and backpacks will be allowed into the area.

"We are on an international stage," White said. "I'm excited for the City of Detroit to show the world that we are prepared, both with law enforcement and the community, to have a safe and welcoming event."