by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Despite the community-wide excitement surrounding the 2005 Super Bowl, officials say security will remain a top priority as Jacksonville prepares to host the event.
On June 25, at Alltel Stadium, the Regional Domestic Security Task Force has scheduled a crowd simulation, the Protect Freedom Exercise. The group said the exercise will “better prepare our community to host Super Bowl XXXIX.”
In a statement issued by Jeff Alexander, co-chair of the task force, the goals and objectives are clearly outlined. Among the primary objectives are to “reinforce establish policies and procedures, measure resource adequacy and functionality of communications.”
Planning for the event began months ago and the RDSTF is anticipating a crowd of over 3,000. The group stressed that a larger crowd will lend realistic “background traffic” while stadium and City officials effectively practice safety procedures.
“We need [the community’s] help,” said Alexander. “We are soliciting groups of people to act as part of the crowd at Alltel Stadium. We need a minimum of 2,000 people to ensure the success of this exercise.”
Alexander will also coordinate the exercise.
Although a large crowd is needed to simulate realism, Sharon Gogerty, RDSTF public affair representative, said specific groups have been recruited to play a part on the day of the event.
“We’ve been targeting individuals whom we feel will make up the crowd we want,” she said. “It’s not an open call to everyone in the public. We will have actual law enforcement officers there, so we need to make sure that things go smoothly and people don’t take advantage of that.”
Volunteers from the Jaguars, the American Red Cross and Volunteer Jacksonville are expected to comprise a large portion of the crowd.
The Protect Freedom Exercise will kick off at 7:15 a.m. and last until 9:30 that morning. Volunteers are encouraged to to wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable “for stadium walking.”
Everyone participating in the event will receive a free T-shirt.
“The benefits of an exercise like this have the potential to be long term,” said Michael Kelly, president and COO of the Super Bowl Host Committee. “City officials and officers have been employing safety procedure for some time that they have continued to revise in recent years. We will certainly play a supportive role on June 25 to make this as realistic as possible. Planning like this will be valuable to all future events at Alltel Stadium.”