Technology a big part of safety plan at Mosaic

Keeping the patrons safe and secure at Mosaic Stadium is Rod Buckingham’s top priority.

To meet that goal, Buckingham has a number of tools at his disposal as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ director of security — ranging from highly trained security personnel to a state-of-the-art command centre located at Mosaic Stadium.

“My challenge is we want it to be an entertainment event and not a security event,’’ Buckingham said while providing a tour of the command centre. “We try to balance it all of the time.’’

The command centre overlooks the field at Mosaic Stadium.

It is staffed by representatives from the Regina Police Service, Regina Fire and Protective Services, Roughriders and Evraz Place staff, EMT services, an incident management co-ordinator, a security dispatcher, a security text monitor and a meteorologist.

There is also a panel of monitors on which surveillance experts can access video from any of the 200 security cameras in place throughout the stadium.

“People should know that they are being watched,’’ said Gregg Sauter, the Riders’ vice-president of business development and marketing.

That surveillance is necessary when it comes to dealing with unruly and disruptive fans.

It can also provide speedy assistance if any fans find themselves dealing with health concerns.

Heightened security is part of a world where major events can be the target of sabotage or terrorist attacks.

“I always work under the premise that we want to be prepared for that,’’ said Buckingham, who is also the senior security consultant with the CFL.

Security isn’t all about electronics and surveillance cameras.

About 70 security personnel are on duty, including two uniformed RPS members stationed at each entry gate as a precautionary measure.

The security detail includes two compliance officers in the opposing team’s jerseys to ensure that fans of the visiting team are being treated well. Security personnel are also on duty searching the bags of fans entering the stadium.

Buckingham, who spent 36 years with the RPS and the RCMP before moving into security, has studied the practices used at many NFL stadiums and implemented them at Mosaic Stadium.