‘WE’RE PREPARED’ FOR ANYTHING
Security officials ready for 4th
Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies say they are prepared for any disturbance “imaginable” when the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular returns to the Esplanade and a national television audience tonight on CBS.
While admittedly “concerned” about recent attacks by Islamic State inspired terrorists around the globe, state police Col. Richard McKeon said yesterday, “That’s part of our safety plan. We have no information indicating that there’s any threat to this event. Certainly if we did, we’d address that.”
McKeon, in his final pre-Fourth media briefing from inside the high-tech bunker that will serve as the big event’s unified command center, said, “To have a great time, we want to make sure that everybody is safe. We’re prepared for any type of incident, we believe, imaginable.”
The gates to the Charles River Esplanade will open to the public at 9 a.m. Permitted items must be contained in clear bags and only coolers that can be carried, not rolled in, will get past security checkpoints.
Because temperatures are expected to approach 90 degrees, McKeon said tents no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet are allowed. He advised, in addition to sun block, “Bring as much hydration as you can carry in.”
Dozens of surveillance cameras, as evidenced by the banks of big-screen monitors occupying a single wall of the command center, will be trained on the crowd, as well as major roadways in the area.
“We can see pretty far west — at least to the BU bridge,” said state police Maj. Dan Risteen, the concert’s incident commander. “We can see beyond Leverett Circle. However, we have the ability to adapt and adjust and be able to get cameras further north, south, east and west at a moment’s notice.”
But even with so many electronic eyes overhead scanning for trouble, officials said it’s critical they be able to count on the public to supplement their uniformed and undercover presence on the ground.
For instance, drones are banned from the event. During last fall’s Head of the Charles Regatta, Risteen said the public alerted police to four drones they were able to intercept before they were launched.
“We would just ask if the people in the venue see something to bring it immediately to the attention of a police officer on scene. We rely on them. That could be a real difference-maker,” Risteen said. “I don’t think anyone would regret making any notification upon seeing something that appeared suspicious.”