Riverbend adds off-duty officers to security plan

Riverbend Festival security is being revamped this year.

Friends of the Festival changed its security plan for Riverbend on Thursday after learning there would not be enough private security officers to work the eight-day music festival.

Originally, Friends of the Festival opted to use private security according to a plan the Chattanooga Police Department would approve.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Chattanooga Police Department has had more than 100 officers work the Riverbend Festival on the riverfront with another 60 officers just outside the event.

However, this year was to be the first that event organizer Friends of the Festival would have to pick up the bill on security costs.