Police Prepare for Sundance Film Festival

Police Prepare for Sundance Film Festival


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Amanda Butterfield ReportingThis time tomorrow, The Sundance Film Festival will be underway in Park City. For the police department, it means working overtime and double shifts. They've received a list of celebrities expected to be there, and now they're getting ready for them.

Lt. Rick Ryan, Park City Police: "We expect Robert Downey Jr., Josh Hartnet, Lucy Lui, Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, and that's just a few."

Reyes, Park City Resident: "You get to see a celebrity every three, four buildings. It's very exciting."

It's names like that, that'll draw huge crowds to Park City over the next ten days.

Lt. Rick Ryan: "That's who we really deal with is people coming to see the big stars.

And that keeps the police department busy.

Lt. Ryan: "We beef up patrol."

When Sundance rolls into town, the population triples, so that means the traffic wrecks triple. Property crime, noise violations, and parties all triple, so do patrols.

Lt. Ryan: "We have a fairly large reserve force we bring out."

One spot Park City police officers keep a close eye on is Harry O's, because almost every night of sundace there's going to be a private party there.

Lt. Rick Ryan has worked Sundance for 20 years and says they rarely have any troubles with the big celebrities who come in. He says it seems to be the lesser knowns who can get difficult with officers.

Sundance often hires local law enforcement for security. Opening night, Lt. Ryan will be guarding Jennifer Aniston, who stars in "Friends with Money," this year's premiere.

But not everyone braves the crowds and the cold, to catch a glimmer of the stars. Just ask some Park City locals.

Rick, Park City Resident: "It's so crowded, it's just impossible. Usually I get the, this is KSL right? Get the heck outta town! Ha! Ha!"

Movie stars and entertainers aren't the only names expected to draw in big crowds to this year's festival; Al Gore and Ralph Nadar are also expected to come and bring in some onlookers.

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