NCJ Number
111535
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 36 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1988) Pages: 18-22
Date Published
1988
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Security planning and management for the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis was a major undertaking that required careful interagency cooperation.
Abstract
The first step in planning was the creation of a council comprised of the heads of major local law enforcement agencies and 16 subcommittees responsible for planning within such areas as emergency response, air support, communications, traffic control, and crime prevention. In addition, an integrated threat analysis group was formed to analyze intelligence from worldwide sources. A coordination center provided desk space and communications capabilities for all the agencies involved in security management. All major agencies involved also maintained command posts at each of the venues for which they were responsible. Training for security forces covered language, cultural awareness, dignitary protection, counterterrorism, and other security-related issues. In addition, street-level officers were issued handbooks on event security and on conversational Spanish. Access badges also were developed and distributed. When the games opened in August, the various law enforcement agencies began their security vigil, supplemented by reserve police, private security officers, college students, and police from nearby States. The security effort was so successful that it has served as a model for other jurisdictions hosting major events. 2 photographs.