Digital News Report- Security will be tight in Washington D.C. during the inauguration festivities in what may be one of the largest security operations for any inaugurations in history. . Up to 40,000 officers from more than 150 agencies, including federal agents, police officers, and military personnel, will be on hand, according Clayton Young, vice-president and general manager of AlliedBarton. This is roughly one for every 50 people expected to attend the inauguration.
One measure of security is the elite Secret Service countersniper unit, which will be staked out on roofs along Pennsylvania Avenue during the Presidential motorcade. “When you look at that parade on the day of the inauguration, every building that we will pass by … has been surveyed… by the Countersniper Team,” said Secret Service director Mark Sullivan. “They will be familiar with every building; they will be familiar with every potential threat.”
They don’t hide their presence as they act as a visual deterrent to potential threats. They will be visible on the roofs of numerous building on inauguration day. However, due to security reasons, they won’t release information about their weapons or the number of units deployed for the day.
National Guard units will also be on duty during the festivities to secure streets and bus routes leading into the area. The Patomic River will be patrolled by the Coast Guard and air units and bomb sniffing dogs will be surveying most of Washington D.C. A multi-agency command center is already receiving video feeds from the 5,265 surveillance cameras spread around the city.
When asked about concerns for his safety in an interview last year, Mr Obama said, “I’ve got the best protection in the world. So stop worrying.” Michelle Obama has been quoted as saying that she doesn’t “lose any sleep over it.”
Joseph Funk, who was in the service for more than 20 years and now runs his own security company, called Mr Obama “one of the best protectees I ever worked with. He was very willing to sit down and listen to your thoughts on security. He listened to us. I totally enjoyed my time with him.”
To help things run smoothly for inauguration, those of you who will be attending the event can help by not bringing packages, backpacks, suitcases, coolers, umbrellas or posters. All of those items are restricted at inaugural event sites. Anyone attempting to get near the parade route or the swearing-in ceremony will be scanned by metal detectors.