Homegrown Company Puts Some Serious Teeth Into Rose Parade Threat Protection

A Pasadena company said Friday it has “meticulously coordinated” its efforts with the Tournament of Roses, the City of Pasadena and law enforcement to establish a secure vehicle perimeter along the entire five-and-a-half-mile Rose Parade route.

Officials have said there are no known threats at this time.

Meridian Rapid Defense Group said it has strategically deployed over 600 of its Archer 1200 anti-vehicle barriers, along with their highly effective beam gates, effectively sealing off all intersecting streets to prevent the possibility of a  “vehicle as a weapon” incident.

David Eads, Executive Director of the Tournament of Roses, emphasized, “Our topmost priority in all our events is the security of our guests, parade participants, volunteer staff, and all contributors to the success of the Rose Parade.”

Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris affirmed the preparedness of his officers, stating, “We prepare for the worst, expect the best. That is the way we are going to approach it.”

Replacing conventional water and concrete barriers, the Archer Barriers adhere to both US and European crash test standards and boast SAFETY Act certification from the Department of Homeland Security.

Widely adopted by fire and police departments and numerous sports venues, including NFL, MLS, and MLB stadiums, these barriers were recently instrumental in securing entrance zones for the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix in November.

Eric Alms, CEO of Meridian Rental, highlighted the magnitude of this undertaking, stating, “Large rental jobs seldom come on a grander scale than this. With the unpredictability of a significant influx of people, the mobility of the barriers allows us to execute setup and breakdown swiftly, alleviating a major security concern for event organizers.”

The Archer 1200 Barriers are becoming a familiar presence on streets across the U.S., offering an ideal solution for securing parade routes. Their ease of maneuverability allows one person to wheel them into position within seconds. 

Once secured, these barriers permit pedestrian access while simultaneously forming an impervious steel barrier against vehicular threats.