Cedar Point- Kings Island Police/Security Uniforms 2013 (Bonded vs Non-Bond)

I just had a question regarding the Police/Security Uniforms. I was just reading different topics and I started reading the topic "Cedar Point Police?" Which is now closed and I can't ask my question. I now understand the difference between a Bonded and Non-Bond Officer but if the Non-Bond Officer is not a legit Police Officer and Cedar Point Police Department is a legit Agency why does the Non-Bond wear a uniform labeled "POLICE"? Isn't it a liability to Cedar Fair if a non certified civilian is walking around in a Police Uniform? If I had an emergency an ran to a non-bond officer labeled police what would he do, he has no way of defending himself or protecting me. What happens if their was a weapon involved, it makes me nervous especially with today's world these days. I talked to my cousin in southern Ohio who visits Kings Island and he told me that they have employees labeled "Kings Island Security" with no firearm walking around and he saw one guy dressed different in another uniform with a firearm labeled "Kings Island Police". I take it Kings Island has both Security and Police but why doesn't Cedar Point? Idn how I feel about regular civilians in a police uniform and no weapon it really makes no sense and makes me nervous, I would think the Cedar Fairs Legal Department would question this. Can anyone explain this alittle better or share your thoughts, maybe I don't know something but has anyone else noticed this?

I've not looked closely, but I'm pretty sure the badges and arm patches are different between bonded and non-bonded. I assume that whatever is printed on them would provide the technical differences you're asking about.

cedar point police officers are deputized.

They wear the same uniform, patches, badges, etc. Bonded officers have their handgun on, that is your tell tale sign. Non-bonded officers have just a radio...BEWARE the radio. But really, some of the non-bonded officers are certified in other states, went through police academy, and all of that, and are just getting some job experience to help with the job hunt in their home state. Also, to be apart of Cedar Point police, they do in person interviews (not skype/phone chat) a background check and run your finger prints. There is decent ratio of bonded/non-bonded officers on duty during any given time, and patrol 24hrs. Non-bonded officers without experience learn some take-downs and how to handcuff. If something bad happens, bonded and non-bonded officers will be on scene, and if needed Sandusky PD.

But really, try to not worry about bonded/non-bonded, and enjoy your time at the park. There are plenty of eyes watching for trouble.

From a practical perspective, there really is nothing that a bonded officer can do that a non-bonded officer can't initiate (if only by whipping out a radio), with the exception of pulling a firearm. I would hope that if a situation escalated that far in the park, there would be multiple officers on the scene by the time it happened.

I've watched a couple of incidents play out in the park over the years. When action is needed, the CPPD can be very effective, and very discreet. I was watching one incident, for instance, where to any casual observer it looked to be two people talking with a single officer. In reality, those three were surrounded by additional officers just in case something went wrong.

The other interesting one was a "walk of shame" as two people were being escorted out the main gate for breaking a ride. I knew that was happening because I saw the "meeting" where the soon-to-be-former customers got the bad news. You wouldn't have known it to watch them leaving the park, though. They walked unaccompanied to the front gate; two officers were behind them, close enough to make sure they didn't stop, far enough away that if you didn't know what was going on, you'd never notice.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
(one of a select group of people who actually got thrown *into* Cedar Point by the CPPD)

A few Halloweekends ago, we were in line for Top Thrill Dragster when a group of four were getting on the ride and were flashing gang symbols, threatening other guests, and using profanity for every other word. The ride ops locked them in the train and then called security and waited for them to get there to escort them off the ride. Within minutes, multiple officers were on the platform and escorting them off. Brian Short, the nicest employee (maybe the nicest person) I have ever met, apologized to the people in the station and told us they were being removed from the park.

By the time we got off the ride, we saw the group surrounded by probably 15 members of the CPPD. They were everywhere.

Sorry for the random story, Dave's examples reminded me of it!

RideMan said:
The other interesting one was a "walk of shame" as two people were being escorted out the main gate for breaking a ride.

Ok Dave, now I need to know what they did to break a ride.

So I was just watching random CP videos on YouTube and I found this video, atleast they enforce the park policies that are posted at the entrance of every line. Lol It's pretty funny! http://youtu.be/CvkcvBnyy4c

JuggaLotus, it was an incident where they were rocking a Sky Ride gondola as it approached the Northeast station, causing it to miss the rail and jam up the whole ride as it came in. It took a fair number of maintenance crew to lift the gondola back up and get it unstuck. Once they got the ride back up and running, I rode it down the midway, as the walk-out was going on below me. Which is how I was able to see how it was being done.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.