U.S. Marshal Service To Monitor Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

September 30, 2010 - The United States Marshal Service, District of New Mexico, will be assisting local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in the 2010 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The annual event will take place October 2-10. The fiesta expects 750-1000 balloon pilots to participate from all over the world and the event attracts over 10,000 spectators a day totaling over one million for the event.  

During the nine days of Balloon Fiesta, the men and women of law enforcement devote all their efforts and resources to provide all visitors to the park with the highest quality service and protection. They maintain a 24/7 mobile, mounted, plain clothes, and foot patrol surveillance throughout Balloon Fiesta. This will be the first year the Marshal Service will deploy a ATF certified explosives detection canine at the event.  

After the balloons have all flown from Balloon Fiesta Park, law enforcement agency personnel will move vehicles and equipment onto the field to give the public the opportunity to get a close-up look at fire and police equipment; talk with firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel. The event will feature a variety of displays from several agencies including helicopters, hovercraft, mounted horse patrol, patrol vehicles, emergency response vehicles and a ladder truck.

The first event was located in the parking lot of the Winrock Shopping Center with 20,000 spectators and with balloonists from Arizona, California, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Texas taking part. McKee, Cutter, and Kratz are the three men who had origninally started the balloon races. The first fiesta was actually a "Roadrunner-Coyote Balloon Race", with 1 balloon being the "Roadrunner" and the others being "Coyote" balloons. The winner of the race was the Coyote who landed closest to the Roadrunner.