Annual July 4 Peachtree Road Race Calls For Security Collaboration

Federal and state law enforcement will aid Atlanta police, firefighters and paramedics July 4 to keep the city safe during the annual AJC Peachtree Road Race.

Atlanta police and firefighters began preparation for the event months ago, officials said. The 10K race is turning 50 and is expected to bring more than 60,000 people to the city, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Even though we’ve done this over and over and over, we never take anything for granted,” Atlanta police Capt. Rodney Woody told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Before sunrise, a joint operations center will open at the Atlanta Police Department, and all Atlanta police officers will be on duty throughout the day. Woody said he doesn’t anticipate any threats.

“For us, it’s all hands on deck,” Woody said. “Any event like this is a collaborative effort.”

Atlanta Fire Department spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford expects problems related to the heat, he said. In 2017, paramedics treated about 60 people for heat exhaustion.

“It’s a race in the summer. At some point, people will have some trouble,” Stafford said.

July 4 is predicted to be hot and humid, not unusual for a holiday with an average high temperature of 89 degrees.

Participants can find water stations throughout the race, and paramedics in various vehicles will patrol the course, Stafford said. Officials encourage those in need of help or anyone who sees someone in distress to find the nearest officer or firefighter.

The race route stretches from Lenox Square mall to 10th Street to just outside of Piedmont Park. Streets will close as early as 5 a.m.

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