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Police urge council to designate carnival footprint as dispersal area to deter gang activity at Bellabrio Days
Summary
Police recommended a resolution to designate park and carnival areas as locations where officers may issue orders to disperse for 48 hours to prevent gang‑related escalation; staff cited Taylorsville's use of the same tool and asked council support ahead of Bellabrio Days.
Chief Russo and Captain McHugh briefed the council on a proposed resolution (2025‑58) that would designate specified park and event footprints as areas where law enforcement may issue orders to disperse and remove individuals for up to 48 hours when officers observe behavior they judge risks escalation.
Staff said the tool is intended to reduce regional gang activity and gatherings that can rapidly escalate during large events. Captain McHugh cited Taylorsville’s adoption of the same ordinance and said it helped prevent firearms‑related incidents at comparable regional events; he described one instance where Taylorsville used the authority successfully and noted support from the metro gang unit for identification assistance.
Councilmembers asked about staffing and costs; Captain McHugh said the city typically hires some outside officers for large events and that expenses related to additional staffing would apply. The council asked to ensure the policy and the designated map are clear and asked staff to coordinate with event organizers to reduce post‑event crowding.
Next steps: staff will bring the resolution forward for action on the business agenda, with supporting maps, staffing plans and budget implications.
