As Patriots fans focused on cooking up a good time tailgating before Thursday night’s game, for some staying safe in large crowds isn’t necessarily on the back burner.
“Everywhere we go we kind of have a buddy,” said Mersaydez Johnston. “And make sure we’re not alone, make sure we’re with somebody at all times.”
Places where huge crowds gather, from Gillette Stadium to Fenway Park to Six Flags, can be attractive to criminals hoping to launch a large-scale attack.
“We can’t believe how some people can scheme to try to bring harm to others,” said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Kraft was among the many people representing large venues and law enforcement Thursday afternoon as Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order establishing the Massachusetts Large Venue Security Task Force.
Sixteen people will join forces, with the goal to keep people safe.
“We all know each other but we haven't necessarily sat in a room and said what are the best practices,” said TD Garden President Amy Latimer. “What are the things that we can do together, what can we learn from each other?”
Local
In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.
The committee will identify the risks facing Massachusetts venues, study tactics being used around the world, and make sure law enforcement and the stadiums, amusement parks, and festival grounds are on the same page to minimize the chance of an attack, and how best to handle it if something catastrophic happens.
The governor wants the committee to submit its strategic plan by April 30.
