AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several agencies shared public safety recommendations Wednesday ahead of the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
“We will have officers inside and outside the park,” said Sgt. Destiny Silva with APD. “If you need help, flag one of us down, that’s what we’re there for.”
Representatives from the Austin Fire Department, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, and Homeland Security and Emergency Management provided safety tips for event-goers as well as people in the community who will be near the park.
What if your phone gets stolen at ACL?
Sgt. Silva offered the following advice regarding potential theft at the music festival.
- Take down your phone’s serial number ahead of the weekend and keep that number in a safe place at home. This can help APD track it down more easily if it does get stolen.
- Keep valuables in different places on your person. This way, for example, if your phone is in a purse, but your ID is in a fanny pack, only one of those items would be gone if either gets taken.
- Don’t keep your phone in a back pocket
If any of your belongings do get stolen, Sgt. Silva said to call 311 or report the theft online at ireportaustin.com.
The full press conference featuring tips from Austin public safety officials is in the video below.
How APD’s new reserve officer force will help during ACL
“Reignited the fire of working for the Austin community and these great men and women,” said Officer Surei Scanlon, one of the 14 retired officers sworn in as a reserve officer last week.
The department – with city council approval – created the reserve unit to help staff special events like ACL.
The reserve officers will station at the traffic control barricades.
“With the reserve program we’ve gone into this ACL with the least amount vacancies in years past,” said Officer Hank Aguilar with the special events unit.
