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PARK CITY, Utah— Normally, the Park City Police Department has three or four officers patrolling the city in the daytime, but during the Sundance Film Festival, close to 20 officers keep things in order.
One of them is Sgt. Vai Lealaitafea, who knows a thing or two about being a police officer during one of the biggest film festivals in the world.
"This is my 10th one," he said from his patrol car Thursday.
He estimates an extra 40,000 people crowd this small resort town during the opening weekend alone. With that comes an increase in traffic and non-parking related issues.
"We've had more than a few incidents involving heavily intoxicated people," Lealaitafea said. "One man basically rushed our officer, and so our officer had to take him into custody."
During a normal week, there are three to four arrests while, during the festival, that number grows to about 20, according to the police department.
There's also crowd control of a different kind.
"(I helped) with Nicole Kidman, just getting her into a theater," Lealaitafea said. "I was sitting there for like a half hour waiting for her in the cold in my short sleeves."
(I helped) with Nicole Kidman, just getting her into a theater. I was sitting there for like a half hour waiting for her in the cold in my short sleeves.
–Sgt. Vai Lealaitafea
No matter what's causing the crowd, it's a task too large for the Park City Police Department to handle alone.
"It takes a lot of planning and teamwork from the city," Lealaitafea said.
It also takes teamwork from surrounding cities as officers from Wasatch County, Heber City, and Summit County come to help. While long hours and a packed Park City may wear on some, Lealaitafea said he enjoys the annual event.
"I actually like Sundance—don't tell anybody else that," he said with a laugh.
On Thursday, the crowds had thinned as the festival winds down. The police department said it hasn't had any major incidents this year.
