Here’s how Pittsburgh leaders are working to keep everyone safe as visitors pour in for Oktoberfest

A major festival is kicking off in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, raising some questions about safety.

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The 11-day Oktoberfest is expected to draw thousands to the area.

Peggy Koval felt a sense of safety as she walked into the Oktoberfest Tent on the first day of the event, right in the heart of downtown.

“It makes me feel comfortable and in a way a little bit sad that we have to have that, but it’s a good thing, I feel very comfortable coming over,” Koval said.

Zone 2 Commander Tim Novosel was there for the start of the event and told Channel 11 that his officers would be on patrol day and night for the festival.

He’s well aware of any and all crime downtown and one of his goals is to make sure large events run smoothly.

“We try to forecast things and try to manage them when they come, and we are going to have additional officers, people working, looking for whatever pops up that we have to investigate,” Novosel said.

This past summer, there have been several downtown events— like Picklesburgh, Arts Festival and Rib Fest — that went off without any issues.

Commander Novosel told Channel 11 that a big part of keeping these events safe is the specific officers they have in Zone 2.

“We’re blessed with some of the best officers in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and I say that because this is a community to them. It’s such a small area to manage, very large volume of people. But small area,” he said.

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