CVB Travel: Police cooratin key to success of large events

Be sure to say thanks to the police department the next time a big group whether it's kids, cars or motorcycles visits Springfield.

Without support from Springfield Police Department, traffic could be snarled and some events might not be possible at all, said Tracy Kimberlin, executive director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

That's especially true when an event involves hundreds of cars or motorcycles on the city's streets.

When the National Street Rod Association Mid-America Street Rod Nationals event took place in Springfield May 24-26, event organizer Pat Newell appreciated the police support.

Besides helping traffic flow, police also patrol the fairgrounds during the street rod event.

"Good security is very important," Newell said. "Good security keeps me from having ulcers."

Seeing an officer walk by makes participants feel good about attending, Newell said. That sense of security helps make an event successful, especially when participants are driving cars in which they've invested thousands of hours and dollars, Newell said.

"Springfield is a safe city to visit, and the police department's support helps those groups have a good time when they're here," Kimberlin said. "And that means they're more likely to return ..."

Kimberlin said the police support contributed greatly to the Gold Wing Road Riders Association's selection of Springfield for its Ozark Motorcycle Jubilee in 2001 and 2002.

The same organization brought the Wing Ding motorcycle rally to the city in 1999, and police were instrumental in making possible a parade featuring more than 2,000 motorcycles, said Wing Ding spokesman Howard Rasmussen.

Though the parade was a "traffic headache for them," Springfield officers were professional, and many compliments were received about police during the 1999 Wing Ding and last year's Ozark Motorcycle Jubilee, Rasmussen said.

That professionalism draws the respect of Newell, who had 2,300 specialty cars and thousands of people to deal with during this year's street rod nationals.

"Their attitude is very positive," said Newell, who has brought the event to Springfield six years in a row and plans to return again. "They're very welcoming to the outside activity. They're enthusiastic and encouraging. I haven't met one yet who wasn't professional and courteous."

Police Chief Lynn Rowe said part of the reason the department is so cooperative is because police recognize the value of big events to Springfield's economy.

"All those things are really good for the community," Rowe said. They're good even when they strain the department's resources."

Rowe said the department will cope with the strain when big events are in town because visitors pay the hotel-motel and sales taxes and they support the city's businesses. Some of that revenue also makes its way to the police department, Rowe said.

Police spokesman Kirk Manlove said making sure big events are safe improves the city and providing support helps the city gain a good reputation, leading to more events making their way to Springfield.

"Part of having a police department is quality-of-life issues," Manlove said. "When you have events people can go to, that's part of the attraction of being here."

(Susan Wade is public relations manager for the Springfield Conven-tion & Visitors Bureau.)