by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
If you think getting into a Jaguars’ game after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is a hassle, wait until Jacksonville hosts the 2005 Super Bowl.
This week, three members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are in New Orleans to learn exactly how security surrounding this year’s — and every subsequent year — game will differ from the previous 35 Super Bowls. While the annual event is one of the most secure events in the world, this year’s game is receiving much more than special treatment. President Bush has declared the Super Bowl a “national security event,” which has made getting in to see the gold bullion at Ft. Knox easier than seeing the kickoff at Sunday’s game.
Assistant Chief A.L. Kelly is one of the JSO officers in New Orleans for the game and it’s his second Super Bowl. Despite attending last year’s game in Tampa, Kelly said Sunday’s game will have a totally different look and feel, both inside and outside the Superdome.
“It’s going to be completely different from a security aspect, especially since Sept. 11,” said Kelly, who is joined by Lt. Huck Ross and Sgt. Jim Suber. “It’s [the security force] huge. It triples Tampa. It does go up every year, but even more so since Sept. 11.”
As of Tuesday morning, Kelly, Ross and Suber had met twice with Super Bowl security officials, which includes local law enforcement, the Secret Service, FBI, FEMA and even the United States Treasury Department. Kelly said the Treasury Department is on hand, as they will be in Salt lake City for next month’s Winter Olympics, because of Bush’s designation of the Super Bowl as a national security event.
Kelly said there are about 700 national guardsmen in New Orleans and that’s just a fraction of the security present. Between local law enforcement officials and federal agents from various agencies, Kelly said he expects over 2,000 security personnel to be in the area. Considering the JSO uses about 160 officers for a Jaguars game, it’s difficult to imagine a security force that big.
“It’s just a major, major operation,” said Kelly.
Like last year in Tampa, the use of facial recognition technology will be implemented outside the Superdome. Every fan entering the facility will be observed and recorded. And, that’s just one aspect of the security measures.
“If you are going into the game, there will be three checkpoints,” said Kelly. “And, number three is much more stringent than number one. Everyone will be wanded with a magnometer. The second checkpoint is getting through an eight-foot fence that surrounds the entire Superdome. Then, before you enter the stadium with your ticket, you are checked again, just like we do at the stadium for a Jaguars game. They will check your bags or pockets or anything else.”
When the game comes to Jacksonville in 2005, locals with tickets might be shocked when they arrive at Alltel Stadium. Driving to the stadium and pulling into Lot C simply won’t be an option. In fact, milling around the stadium for hours before the game won’t happen either.
“We are going to have to institute some things that the people in Jacksonville are not accustomed to,” said Kelly. “There will be no vehicles anywhere near the parking lots around the stadium. If it continues to be a national security event, people will have to park three or four blocks away. We will establish a good perimeter around the stadium.”
Kelly said he also expects facial recognition technology — along with other advancements he prefers to not discuss — will be used not just at Alltel for the 2005 Super Bowl, but for at least one full football season before the game.
“We fully intend and plan on using that. It’s a very effective tool,” said Kelly, adding he doesn’t think it can be implemented in time for the 2002-03 Jaguars season, but the following year is a possibility. “That is something we are definitely looking at. It’s a decision for the sheriff to make. The sooner the better for us. We know for a fact that bad things that happen are not going to go away. We have to be prepared for anything.”
All of this security does beg one question: is it still possible — with over 2,000 security people in the area, no parking near the Superdome and three checkpoints to get in — that something terroristic in nature could happen? Kelly thinks not.
“I think they have all their bases very well covered,” said Kelly.
Life in New Orleans won’t be all work and no play for the three JSO officers. When the game kicks off shortly after 6:30 Sunday, Kelly, Ross and Suber will all be at the game, courtesy of the Secret Service.
“They have been very receptive to us, especially since we are hosting the Super Bowl in 2005,” said Kelly of the Secret Service. “They have been laying out the red carpet and they want us to be prepared. We have credentials that will get us just about anywhere we want to go.”