NCJ Number
212950
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 75 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2006 Pages: 1-5
Date Published
January 2006
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes how the FBI field office in Jacksonville, FL, the site of Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005, cooperated with other agencies to develop and implement a Super Bowl security plan that proved effective.
Abstract
Prior to planning for Super Bowl security, representatives of the Jacksonville FBI field office consulted with their counterparts in other field offices and at FBI headquarters to obtain advice based on their experience with similar security challenges. Because the FBI's security mission for Super Bowl XXXIX overlapped that of numerous other organizations, establishing liaison with key players in those organizations was critical. FBI responsibilities for counterterrorist intelligence and countermeasures encompassed liaison with SWAT teams, bomb technicians, maritime and aviation operations, and specialists in weapons of mass destruction. Cooperation with local and State law enforcement agencies was also important. The law enforcement leadership developed a unique command structure. The downtown operations facility for Super Bowl week housed the heads of the primary public safety agencies and key operations personnel from a number of other city and State organizations. The lower level of the facility contained the joint information center, where public information officers and media representatives from participating organizations handled calls from the media. A mile away, the FBI's intelligence and counterterrorism center conducted its activities. The network established enabled the handling of routine problems of disorder and crime while following up every call that involved suspicious packages and other possible threats to public safety.