The Little Rock Police Department said it will increase security Wednesday night at the Movies in the Park event in the city's River Market district.
Little Rock Police Lt. Sidney Allen said the department has assigned officers from the River Market and SWAT units, as well as motorcycle and school resource officers — a total of eight supervisors and 42 officers — to staff the event.
“In conjunction with additional personnel, we will be utilizing the Portable Sky Towers that we use during Riverfest and the Arkansas State Fair,” Allen said in an email.
Since the school resource officers have experience working with youths, they will assist with crowd control inside and outside the amphitheater, Allen said. The SWAT unit will cover the perimeter and motorcycle officers will assist with pedestrian traffic during and following the event.
Allen said the heightened security will continue on Wednesday nights for at least "the next couple weeks."
The increased security measures come after shots were fired in the Rivermarket following last week's Movies in the Park.