HLB, Parks & Rec hire armed security to keep revelers at bay

Julie St. Louis/Turnagain Times Families delighted in watching the “unofficial, unsponsored” parade that was a part of the former Forest Fair festivities during the 4th of July weekend. “A lot of people felt it was just like Forest Fair 30 years ago,” said Girdwood Fire Chief Bill Chadwick.

By Rachel Drinkard
Turnagain Times Correspondent

On Thursday, July 3, popular Anchorage morning DJs Bob and Mark at KWHL 106.5 FM suggested listeners go to Girdwood for the extended holiday weekend to party despite the fact Forest Fair previously cancelled this year.
Afterwards, Fire Chief Bill Chadwick, Muni, and Heritage Land Bank officials all knew greater precautions than originally planned would need to be taken and arranged to have private security guards from Securitas Inc. patrol the area.
“We went in with Parks and Recreation to hire armed security because we didn’t want the forest burned down or our property destroyed,” said Heritage Land Bank Director Bill Mehner.
HLB property runs between Forest Fair Park and Glacier Creek where Forest Fair campers have traditionally gotten the rowdiest. “We hope next year we will have a Forest Fair,” said Mehner.
Mehner said HLB’s intends to cooperate with the Forest Fair committee and Parks & Recreation again next year to hire private security for the fair.
“Our plan is to budget for a contribution for security to that end,” he said. “Part of the problem has been that the Forest Fair committee has not had the extended budget required for the additional security needs and that’s essentially why Parks and HLB stepped up to the plate this year to hire that security and why we plan to do so again next year. Hopefully they got the message this year that it’s supposed to be more than just a big party, and in the future it will go back to being what it was meant to be.”
Throughout the Fourth of July weekend, Securitas provided an armed supervisor on duty at all times with two roving vehicle patrols and varying numbers of unarmed officers to enforce no camping or drug and alcohol use in the provided outlined area in Girdwood.
According to the Securitas report synopsis, guards also assisted Fire Chief Chadwick with several illegal campfire citations, conducted welfare checks on intoxicated individuals, prevented vandalism and bicycle thefts, offered escorts for residents/hikers around a bear and her cubs, recovered a stolen tent and assisted State Troopers with an arrest of an individual who had an outstanding warrant.
No particularly threatening or violent situations were reported, however, there was a surprisingly high 16 bear encounters.
There were no reports of underage drinking—the only reports of public substance use were some relatively mild instances involving marijuana and alcohol.
Several residents and business owners complained of harassment after guards attempted to shut down small campfires and parties on private property. According to Forest Fair Park camp host John Eastough, an initial misunderstanding resulted in several paid campers being made to leave Forest Fair Park when Securitas arrived Thursday night.
Based on the results of the weekend, Securitas project manager Christopher Tortora recommends utilizing a greater security presence at future Forest Fairs on Friday and decreasing the manpower on Thursday and Sunday as well as adding an ATV patrol for Friday and Saturday. He additionally suggested that all officers be provided with bear spray and trained in its use based on the high number of bear sightings.
Overall, most residents and officials were relatively pleased with the way the weekend turned out, but look forward to the fair returning next year.