Photo By Capt. Cavett Ishihara | The symbol for the Super Bowl is displayed at the NFL experience in downtown Phoenix...... read more read more
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SALT LAKE CITY — The 76th Operational Response Command’s Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer program participated with the Department of Homeland Security, and other state and federal agencies, in providing a secure environment for the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, held at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Ariz. Jan. 25 – Feb. 1, 2015.
The EPLO program is responsible for supporting civil authorities and acts as an intermediary in the military’s role in responding to domestic emergencies.
“There were at least twenty agencies here,” said Army Col. Robert White, Regional EPLO for Region IX, which includes Arizona. “All the local valley [police departments], [fire departments], DHS, and border patrol were all here talking to each other and leveraging what each other brings to the table.”
In addition to Army, DHS and local law enforcement services, the coordinated effort also included representation from the FBI, U.S. Marshalls Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
While the University of Phoenix Stadium capably seated more than 70,000 people for the big games, the events actually drew hundreds of thousands of people to the area for other Super Bowl venues.
“We have a very large prevention mission,” said Matthew Allen, special agent in charge for homeland security investigations in Arizona. “A lot of the DHS and other law enforcement resources are to make sure that we do everything that we can to prevent any kind of event from happening.”
While the mission of EPLO is traditionally response, this event allowed for those involved to be in a proactive role and actually be there prior to there being any sort of incident.
The size of this event also provided great training. Generally, in terms of security and preparation, there are only two events larger than the Super Bowl: those are the presidential inauguration and the State of the Union address.
“It’s important because you get to do it for real,” said White. “I’d rather be prepared and be in place, and do nothing, than have had something catastrophic happen and not be there.”
Already preparing for next year’s Super Bowl, EPLO ensured that Soldiers that participated in the security this year will be working Super Bowl 50 next year.
“Special events like the Super Bowl and other large events around the country provide the opportunities for National Guard and Reserve units to go into an active status and put some of the training and preparation that they have been doing throughout the year to use in support of a larger domestic operation,” said Allen.
The Pro Bowl and Super Bowl went off without any issues and EPLO will continue preparing for its involvement in future events.
| Date Taken: | 02.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.23.2015 19:50 |
| Story ID: | 155199 |
| Location: | SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US |
| Web Views: | 280 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Army Reserve EPLO assists with NFL Pro Bowl, Super Bowl security, by SSG Kai Jensen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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