NYC music festival tightens security

     A pink elephant sculpture sits adjacent to a medical tent at the Electric Zoo music festival venue on New York's Randall's Island, Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. The final day of last year's festival was called off after two people died from an overdose of MDMA combined with hyperthermia. (Jason DeCrow/AP Photo)

    A pink elephant sculpture sits adjacent to a medical tent at the Electric Zoo music festival venue on New York's Randall's Island, Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. The final day of last year's festival was called off after two people died from an overdose of MDMA combined with hyperthermia. (Jason DeCrow/AP Photo)

    Heightened security is in place for a New York City music festival where two people died last year.

    Electric Zoo officials say they’re beefing up plainclothes security and using off-duty and former NYPD officers with a background in drug investigations.

    Medical precautions also are being taken at the Friday through Sunday event.

    Organizers also will shorten the length of each day’s show by two hours.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    The final day of last year’s festival was called off after two people died from an overdose of MDMA combined with hyperthermia.

    This year, ticket buyers will have to watch a two-minute video about MDMA, also known as molly or ecstasy. The code to activate wristbands will be in the video.

    The festival is being held on Randall’s Island.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal