This position, supervised by the Patrol Administrative Sergeant, reviews request by organizations wishing to conduct special events such as festivals, parades, athletic events, and movie filming in the City.  The officer develops plans with the organizers in order to ensure public safety during the event.  This officer also works with his Sergeant and Commanders to make tactical plans for unusual events requiring police response.

Special Events are extraordinary events that impact the City and Department beyond regular day-to-day operations. Some Special Events are planned (e.g. filming productions, parades, athletic events, festivals, etc.), some recur each year (e.g. Fiesta, Summer Solstice, 4th of July celebrations, Santa Barbara County Bowl Concerts, etc.), and some are unplanned (political and religious demonstrations, disasters, etc.). Department staff review special events to determine if police officers outside the regularly scheduled police officer deployment should be assigned to protect public safety or perform traffic control. These are extra-duty assignments compensated at an overtime rate. There are Special Events which may not require dedicated extra-duty officers but the organizer requests them. Staff evaluates those requests to determine if they serve the City's interests and may assign officers.

Overtime salaries for Special Events are paid out of the Department's allocated funds. In most cases of planned Special Events, the organizer is billed for the overtime costs. For most unplanned (and a few planned) events the Department absorbs the overtime costs from its existing overtime budget.

Citizens are required to obtain a permit anytime a planned event could impact the public safety or traffic circulation. The events planner reviews the permit requests and makes recommendations to staff regarding the necessary resources required to insure a safe event. When the event requires additional officers, the special events officer augments the staffing with police reserve officers.

The Patrol Division is responsible for the planning and coordination of all special events within the city, these include but are not limited to Fiesta, Summer Solstice and the Fourth of July celebration. Last year the department coordinated 178 special events.

Special Events Permits

Applications for special events must be submitted to the Special Events Planning Officer a minimum of thirty (30) days before the event. All applicants shall hold a meeting with the Planning Officer prior to the event for the purpose of coordination of event plans and programs, which would include the collection of any fees and submission of necessary insurance forms. 

(SBMC 9.12.030) Any person wishing to film or videotape scenes for motion picture or television productions shall submit a written request for permit not less than (3) weeks prior to initiating production to the special events planning officer. This request shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $10.00 to process the application, plus applicable fees.  The Chief of Police or his designee in charge of the event shall have authority to cancel the event due to violation of the law, cancellation would be in the best interest, or safety, of the participants or the public.

For additional information and to receive a copy of the Special Events information package, contact the Special Events Planning Officer at (805) 897-3747.