DCSO prepares for golf tournament
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is preparing for the BMW Championship. The team has been diligently working hard for more than a year with the goal “to ensure the safety and security of all participants, attendees and staff during the event,” stated DCSO Public Information Officers.
Held every year in a different location around the United States, the BMW Championship organizers work to continually improve logistics and procedures. DCSO Bureau Chief Michael McIntosh and Captain Dan McMillian traveled to the 2023 BMW Championship in Olympia Fields, Illinois, to learn the ins and outs of security at a high-profile golf tournament.
DCSO has four major emphases in their preparation: enhanced security measures, parking, Happy Canyon Road closures and emergency preparedness.
At the tournament, there will be a large, uniformed presence of police officers, which will allow for quick response time to any incidents that may occur. Additionally, DCSO will provide security at the gate entrances and a private security service will screen patrons coming into the event. Additional DCSO deputies will be on patrol for issues unrelated to the golf championship.
There will be no parking on site for the BMW Championship. Event organizers have contracted off-site parking areas and shuttles and rideshare options will be available.
Happy Canyon Road will be closed between the roundabouts (between Lagae Road and Santa Fe Drive) from August 19 – 25. No private vehicles are allowed into the closed section, with the exception of The Village at Castle Pines residents with the proper access passes and licensed rideshare vehicles (Uber, Lyft, etc.).
DCSO is coordinating with local emergency medical services and fire departments. The combined partnership will provide for quick responses to potential emergencies. Additionally, emergency evacuation points have been identified.
Sheriff Darren Weekly encourages all citizens and guests to cooperate with one another and with public safety personnel and procedures to ensure the success and safety of the golf tournament.
“We recognize this will be the largest sporting event ever held in Douglas County,” stated Weekly. “We have worked diligently to plan for all contingencies to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone attending the BMW Championship and appreciate the cooperation of everyone in helping us achieve this goal.”
By Celeste McNeil
