SAN DIEGO _ As the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and related events approach, San Diego officials say they are prepared with the year's biggest public safety plan.
Like they do for all widely-attended events, authorities say they have a series of measures on deck to address any sort of calamity from gridlock traffic to a terrorist attack.
"We have contingency plans in place to prevent anything from happening," San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said at a Wednesday news conference at Petco Park.
She said she spoke with FBI officials earlier in the day and hasn't heard any credible or specific information about a potential terrorist attack coinciding with the festivities, which stretch from Friday through Tuesday's game.
The events are focused around Petco Park, but are also scattered through the downtown area. They include a smorgasbord of concerts, a parade, massive yoga session, 5K run, the Home Run Derby, and the game itself.
While intelligence sources do not have any details that might cause alarm, Zimmerman is still urging caution. "We ask you to stay vigilant," she said.
Standard security protocols, including screenings and the list of items prohibited into the stadium, will be identical to a regular Padres game, said Mark Guglielmo, the vice president for operations and general manager at Petco Park. The game starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
"The city hosting large events is not new to us. We do this all the time," Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said.
Preparations began over 18 months ago and included a trip to the All-Star game in Cincinnati to observe how officials there planned to host the event. There will be increased presence of firefighters and paramedics and their vehicles around the stadium, as well as uniformed police and undercover officers.
There will be additional security personnel on Metropolitan Transit System routes. San Diego police and firefighters are leading the security plan, but are working with other local, state and federal agencies.
"You will see things, as far as security, that is very overt, such as officers in uniform, on bicycles, in vehicles, you'll see our helicopter," Zimmerman said. "You'll see cameras that are up there. We're going to also have a significant presence of undercover officers working with us."
Police staffing levels will vary between events, she said.
There will be road closures coinciding with different events, but the 5K road race on Sunday and the parade on Tuesday might be the most disruptive to regular traffic.
Parking will be limited downtown, but there are approximately 5,000 spaces at Qualcomm Stadium, a destination on the Green Line.
Bus schedules will not change.
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