Coalition of Regional Police Assigned to Garlic Festival

As visitors pour in to the Gilroy Garlic Festival from California and beyond, a coalition of regional law enforcement agencies has joined forces to keep the 100,000 expected visitors safe.

The , Morgan Hill Police Department, , Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office and the California Highway Patrol have all taken part in providing security and law enforcement in the festival’s 33rd year.

"We originally got involved a few years back after Gilroy requested outside agency assistance in order to help field the necessary number of officers for the event," said Campbell Police Capt. Dave Carmichael.

Campbell PD, attending for its sixth year, sends over a group of officers that get paid overtime to man the festival.

"We are always happy to help out other law enforcement agencies and know that they will return the favor should a future need arise," Carmichael said.

Police will also devote a separate “repeating channel” to the festival, bringing in special radio equipment that will allow long-distance communication for the assigned officers and leave the city’s existing channel open for police work elsewhere, said Jim Gillio, captain in the Gilroy Police Department and chairman of the festival’s security committee.

The festival will reimburse the different agencies for their work, he says. The specific number of officers involved isn’t being released out of security concerns. 

The numerous police departments are a more proactive approach to the festival, said Peter Ciccarelli, festival spokesman. In his 15 years as the spokesman, he hasn't seen a major incident take place.

"Occasionally there’s a fist fight, but nothing more drastic," Ciccarelli said. "Our biggest challenge is sending people home with garlic breath."