Just when Americans were beginning to recover from the series of mass shootings that took place in 2012, the country has been impacted by yet another apparent terrorist attack.
This week’s deadly bombing during the Boston Marathon has cities across the country carefully reviewing their security procedures.
Safety officials and organizers of large events in Indianapolis are taking note of how federal investigators respond to the Boston tragedy, which killed three and injured dozens more.
Public Safety Director Troy Riggs has encouraged residents to not allow terrorism to prevail by letting fear keep them from participating in local events with large crowds. During a press conference Tuesday, he noted that while city officials don’t anticipate any violence or have noticed any threats here, they are prepared for anything that occurs.
“We’re going to do our due diligence,” said Riggs, whose office oversees the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), the fire department, animal control and the Department of Homeland Security.
Security has become a top priority as Indianapolis prepares to host major events this spring and summer. Among them are the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a walk against breast cancer taking place this weekend; the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, which draws an average of more than 35,000 people; and Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration in July.
Riggs said security will be enhanced and increased for upcoming events, although many of the upgrades won’t be visible to spectators. More visible changes will include an increase in sweeps by police dogs, and the removal of trash cans from Bankers Life Fieldhouse as the Indiana Pacers participate in the NBA playoffs.
In addition, Riggs said officials would like to use social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to report updates such as severe weather alerts and security emergencies, as well as receive information from residents.
He added that the local response to the 2011 stage collapse at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the city’s successful hosting of the Super Bowl in 2012 and the November explosion at the Richmond Hill subdivision has kept emergency personnel sharp and prepared for major disasters.
“The Department of Homeland Security, for example, has been doing training of a lot of individuals and conducting numerous exercises,” Riggs said.
Still, he noted that as much as officials can prepare, one of the best tools to prevent or respond to violence is by citizens’ reporting anything that looks strange.
“We ask them to notify us if they see anything unusual,” Riggs said.
Organizers of major upcoming events have been in close contact with safety agencies, while reviewing their own security plans.
Dana Curish, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, has met with IMPD, IUPUI campus police and medical response personnel to map out an emergency plan for the event.
Curish said the Komen race has had a security plan in place for several years, and that no major changes are anticipated for it in the aftermath of the Boston bombing.
“Still, we will be guided by the police department, and in light of recent events if they want some changes made, then we will definitely implement those changes right away,” Curish said.
Over the years, the Komen plan has included the use of a full contingent of unformed IMPD and IUPUI officers, six medical tents, three ambulances, medical technicians riding around on bicycles, radio communication between organizers and a command center that is in constant contact with emergency service providers.
In addition, Komen organizers have an evacuation plan for disasters, natural or manmade, which involves assigning volunteers tasks that prepare them for moving participants from the race course and into safe buildings.
“We also have volunteers in our T-shirts who check and make sure they are aware of everything that is happening,” Curish said.
She encourages participants to also be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity, such as, someone dropping something in a trash can that doesn’t belong there.
While it is common to see participants and volunteers carrying backpacks to sell merchandise, and breast cancer survivors are given pink bags, Curish also advices guest to be watchful of people who leave bags unattended.
“If somebody sees a person drop it and leave it on the street corner, for example, then we ask them to alert somebody immediately,” she said.
Organizers of the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon did not immediately return calls for comment at press time.
Vernon Williams, a spokesman for Indiana Black Expo (IBE), said its president and CEO Tanya Bell, extended heartfelt prayers and support to those directly affected by the Boston tragedy.
Williams said IBE attracts more than 230,000 people to Indianapolis each year for its 11-day Summer Celebration in July, and more than 100,000 individuals who participate in activities associated with Circle City Classic in October, including more than 35,000 who had tickets to last year’s game.
He added, however, that comparing the Boston Marathon to IBE events is like “comparing apples and oranges” and that the organization does not need to adjust its security plan for this summer.
“Our current safety and security plan has worked so well in recent years that there is really nothing at this time to necessitate any changes,” Williams said. “We don’t want to cause undue alarm, especially since we have a strong police presence during our summer events.”
