We hosted the VP debate here at the university Thursday. Most folks who just see the thing on TV have little idea what goes into these things.
Sunday was my final day of 12-hour shifts. 10 days of 12-hour days. This so that we could provide the needed security to the site (the athletic complex) for the duration. Our department was supplemented by volunteers from other neighboring departments.
The sheer quantity of stuff that has to be moved in and set up for these things is staggering. They erected microwave towers. They installed a couple of miles of fence. Semi-trailers full of wiring, cables, computer terminals and hookups, etc, etc,. Of course, all these people have to be fed, so daily catering was also provided.
Fortunately, our squad was on patrol, so we were not involved in sitting on posts for four hours a day and then doing a regular shift as well.
In addition to the Secret Service, we had to coordinate with Homeland Security, the FBI, state and local police agencies, and all sorts of liaisons, media people, coordinators, etc. I didn't see the chief put down a cell phone or blackberry for the 10 days.
The day of the debate, I was assigned to the interior to sit on a post at the media entrance. An easy gig, as it turned out. We had to go to a nearby "staging area" to be briefed, then transported to the secure site by bus.
Even though this was about 50 police officers in full uniform, we were still scrutinized by Secret Service guys to make sure we had the right credentials displayed. No credential, no entry.
Literally no one but the principals entered the site without being scanned and patted down. All packages are dog-sniffed, taken apart, inspected, and only then given back to the owner.
Two helicopters orbited the site at all times. My post was mostly populated by media tech-guys running around keeping the forest of media gear running. I sat right next to the CNN "hub", with the little Spanish-speaking geek/tech who kept fiddling with feeds, levels, and connections through the whole thing.
The Secret Service conducted their "sweep" at about 5pm, bringing through all the dogs, and waving around little electronic devices a little bigger than a pack of cigarettes. I learned later that these were radiation detectors.
They did feed us well..... The Anheuser-Busch hospitality tent had top-notch eats and we had enough relief officers so that we could take our time and eat. Lots of swag, too. I got an official t-shirt, an A-B "debate" beer mug, and a credential "leash" that incorporates a 2-gig flash drive.
14 hours on site....
All in all, slightly less intense than the last one, the 2004 presidential debate.
Just as soon they don't have any more....
Sunday was my final day of 12-hour shifts. 10 days of 12-hour days. This so that we could provide the needed security to the site (the athletic complex) for the duration. Our department was supplemented by volunteers from other neighboring departments.
The sheer quantity of stuff that has to be moved in and set up for these things is staggering. They erected microwave towers. They installed a couple of miles of fence. Semi-trailers full of wiring, cables, computer terminals and hookups, etc, etc,. Of course, all these people have to be fed, so daily catering was also provided.
Fortunately, our squad was on patrol, so we were not involved in sitting on posts for four hours a day and then doing a regular shift as well.
In addition to the Secret Service, we had to coordinate with Homeland Security, the FBI, state and local police agencies, and all sorts of liaisons, media people, coordinators, etc. I didn't see the chief put down a cell phone or blackberry for the 10 days.
The day of the debate, I was assigned to the interior to sit on a post at the media entrance. An easy gig, as it turned out. We had to go to a nearby "staging area" to be briefed, then transported to the secure site by bus.
Even though this was about 50 police officers in full uniform, we were still scrutinized by Secret Service guys to make sure we had the right credentials displayed. No credential, no entry.
Literally no one but the principals entered the site without being scanned and patted down. All packages are dog-sniffed, taken apart, inspected, and only then given back to the owner.
Two helicopters orbited the site at all times. My post was mostly populated by media tech-guys running around keeping the forest of media gear running. I sat right next to the CNN "hub", with the little Spanish-speaking geek/tech who kept fiddling with feeds, levels, and connections through the whole thing.
The Secret Service conducted their "sweep" at about 5pm, bringing through all the dogs, and waving around little electronic devices a little bigger than a pack of cigarettes. I learned later that these were radiation detectors.
They did feed us well..... The Anheuser-Busch hospitality tent had top-notch eats and we had enough relief officers so that we could take our time and eat. Lots of swag, too. I got an official t-shirt, an A-B "debate" beer mug, and a credential "leash" that incorporates a 2-gig flash drive.
14 hours on site....
All in all, slightly less intense than the last one, the 2004 presidential debate.
Just as soon they don't have any more....