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Posted at 6:04 PM EST (2304 GMT)
 Feb. 14th, 2005 -- Geauga Lake is promoting a bill in the Ohio legislature that would allow large amusement parks to form their own police forces.
The bill would allow park-based police to arrest suspects and file reports, things Geauga Lake's current security forces are unable to do, making the parks rely on city police or sheriff departments. Park authorities testified before the Ohio Senate last week, claiming that the bill would both make the parks safer and leave city police and sheriffs free to concentrate on other matters. See The News-Herald for more.
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Chip
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7382
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This sounds just like what they do at Cedar Point. They're an actual police force, not just security. This sounds like a step in the right direction. Hopefully the park will only emulate Cedar Point in operations, though.
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| 2/14/2005 6:13 PM |
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Steven
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7704
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On the contrary... while they are an actual police force, they are actually part of the City of Sandusky Police Department. Because they are technically Sandusky police officers, they can be called to anywhere within Sandusky's city limits if the need requires.
Because parks cannot be self-empowered under current Ohio law, they require such a unique relationship for such a huge amusement park. It is kind of similar to how my college's Dept. of Public Safety operated until they were allowed to become self empowered in 2001... they had a partnership with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Dept., and could *technically* serve all of Ottawa County if need be.
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| 2/14/2005 6:46 PM |
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Kennywooddude
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 620
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Nice to see Cedar Fair taking sercurity into account. I actually know a couple of poeple who stole from Geauga Lake last year.
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| 2/14/2005 8:25 PM |
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5150
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 364
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New Jersey parks hire international security. I don't know why or what their laws are there, but it's interesting.
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| 2/15/2005 12:01 AM |
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coasterlove
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 6476
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I was going to say what Steven said. I thought that the police that patroled Cedar Point were actually Sandusky Police. I know they have their own little station at CP and even patrol cars tht specifically say "Cedar Point" on them. I should know, I've been in one before. ;)
I could see this hitting a lot of resistance. I don't know how some in government and some watchdog citizens would feel about a private business having it's own seperate police force that could act as such. I personally like the idea and hope it happens.
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| 2/15/2005 1:10 AM |
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darque
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 715
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As long as they follow the law, can't see what the problem is with this.
My brother is a police officer up in Vaughn (home of PCW). At least once or twice in a summer he'll find himself actually stationed in the park for up to a week I think.
It's sparked some debate's as to what PCW would be doing (him with his inside scoop, me with Screamscape) from one year to the next. Neither of us has ever been right before the offical announcment.
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| 2/16/2005 6:52 PM |
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