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Columbus police prepared to protect Pride Festival

The Columbus Division of Police said it's doing everything possible to ensure everyone has a fun and safe experience.

The Columbus Pride Festival is the 3rd largest in the nation with an estimated 500,000 people in attendance.

The Columbus Division of Police said providing security for the event is a mammoth task, but said officers are ready.

"We'll have sufficient staff on hand to protect the very long parade that goes on for hours," said Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs.

The police chief declined to discuss security tactics, but the recent Columbus Komen Race For The Cure in May provided a glimpse of what Pride goers can expect in terms of police presence.

City workers parked dump and utility trucks fender to bumper to ensure no one could attempt to drive a vehicle into the crowd.

The Columbus Division of Police Mounted Unit, experts at crowd control, and officers on bicycles will be highly visible at Pride.

10TV has learned officers in plain clothes will blend in with the crowd keeping an eye out for trouble, and spotters and snipers will station themselves on rooftops to keep an eye on the crowd below.

This year, for the first time, Columbus police will give Pride participants and spectators the option of receiving text messages from law enforcement. The texts will serve as 'all alerts' if police need to communicate safety messages with the crowd.

Anyone interested in receiving the link should text the number 888777 and type the message, Pride2018. Police say they will likely offer a similar option for people planning to attend the city's Red, White, And Boom celebration in July.

Chief Jacobs said she has confidence in a successful Pride celebration.

"Success, what we think of as success for this weekend, is that everybody has fun and is safe," said Chief Jacobs.

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