LOS ANGELES - Law enforcement officials have an "event action plan" in place to keep order and ensure peace and safety as fans mark the first anniversary of pop music legend Michael Jackson's death today, police said.
Increased security will be deployed at the Jackson family residence in Encino, Calif., and fans expecting to visit Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery, where Michael Jackson is buried, will have limited access and face strict rules.
"We hope that anyone who decides to go to either venue does so safely and pays attention to what security officers tell them, and hopefully it will be a fun weekend for everyone," said Capt. John Egan, commanding officer for the West Valley Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Egan said law-enforcement officials met with the Jackson family two months ago to devise a plan, and family members were scheduled to be out of town today.
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Although it seems likely that more fans would flock to Jackson's burial site than to the family home, Egan, who spent two weeks at the Jackson compound after the pop star's death on June 25 of last year, said his division was ready for all possibilities.
"Our philosophy is we plan for the worst-case scenario of thousands of people and for the best-case scenario of a smaller number," Egan said.
Beginning at 6 a.m. today, police resources, including motorcycle officers, will be deployed in the vicinity of the Jackson family residence. A mobile command center also will be set up across the street from the Jackson compound, Egan said.
