Providing security during the Hollister Independence Rally is a
combination of keeping the line of communications open between law
enforcement agencies and a low-key yet aggressive presence.
Providing security during the Hollister Independence Rally is a combination of keeping the line of communications open between law enforcement agencies and a low-key yet aggressive presence.
“When you have that many people in one area it is a tremendous strain on our resources,” said Capt. Bob Davies, commander of the Gilroy-Hollister California Highway Patrol Unit. “It is easy for a situation to get out of hand.”
HIRC officials are expecting at least 50,000 people during the three-day rally that runs Friday through Sunday. And to keep order, the Hollister Police Department, county Sheriff’s Department, CHP and other outside agencies will employ more than 70 officers on duty specifically for the event. Also, the HPD will maintain its schedule of regular patrol throughout the city.
“We have to put an umbrella over this whole thing so we are all on same page,” Sheriff Curtis Hill said.
Hollister Police Capt. Bob Brooks said the criminal element that comes in with the motorcycle rally is only a small fraction of rally-goers.
“There are those 1-percenters that cause us security concerns,” he said.
Brooks said rally security will also include 40 hired agents from outside agencies, along with other agents from
jurisdictions offering additional help at no cost to the city.
Avoiding a duplication of what occurred in Laughlin, Nev., last year that left three people dead during a clash between rival motorcycle gangs, Davies said the threat assessment for gang violence is down from the previous year, but if an emergency does occur, “We are prepared.”
Davies said law enforcement officials do not anticipate any gang-related problems to occur, but CHP will increase its patrols in the county, mainly along Highway 25 and the Highway 156 interchange near Pacheco Pass Highway.
“We will be looking for accident-causing type violations like drunken driving,” Davies said.
On average, the number of people arrested for drunken driving in the Hollister area is between four and eight motorists, but during the rally the number usually increases to between 25 and 30.
“We are seriously focusing on this,” Davies said.
The sheriff’s department will focus on potential outlaw motorcycle groups entering the county.
“Everybody will be working,” Hill said. “Our focus will be directed to a few groups whose intent is to disrupt and to break the law.”
Another variable that plays a major role on what could occur is the weather. The hotter the temperatures are, the greater risk of violence.
“When you have a large group of people together drinking alcohol, there is a potential for violations of the law, and if you have a hot spell, people get crankier quicker,” Brooks said.
Other agencies assisting with security will be the Department of Justice along with agents from the Alcohol and Beverage Control commission based in Salinas.
The agents, some undercover and some in uniform, will focus on alcohol sales violation and drinking in public.
“They will be policing the businesses and the people,” Brooks said.
The message is loud and clear to rally participants.
“If you break the law, you go to jail. If you drink and drive, you go to jail,” Hill said. “Come have a good time, but don’t come here purposely to break the law.”
