During the course of four weeks in April, a core team of 50 to 60 people call this nondescript looking trailer on the grounds of the Empire Polo Club home. Their job, to keep festival goers safe during both Weekend One and Weekend Two of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival. During Day One of the 2018 Stagecoach, the Indio Police Department invited us into the command center and, just, wow.
Now, before we can move on here with the details, I do have to disclose a few things:
- Due to security issues, we were not allowed to take any photos from inside the command center (so we have filled in that section of this article with somewhat related GIFs instead).
- Cactus Hugs also agreed to have the Indio Police Department approve the contents in this post so as not to let some of the secret tools and techniques used at the festival out of the bag.
- UPDATE (4/29): Although previously approved, after further review, officials have requested Cactus Hugs remove the remainder of this post due to safety concerns, which we have done.
We thank all of the men and women who work to keep the festivals safe.
The Desert Regional SWAT Team, comprised of officers from @CathedralCityPD, @PalmSpringsPD, and @Indiopd , stand watch over those attending #StageCoach this weekend. #SWAT pic.twitter.com/CD8DQGRLiN
— Chief Travis Walker (@CCPDWALKER) April 28, 2018
