Private report highlights security steps, fears ahead of Inauguration

A private report issued this week by a government security contractor provides new details on the steps police are taking to ensure the safety of President-elect Obama and the millions of people expected to attend his Inauguration.

The document, released by the National Center for Crisis and Continuity Coordination (NC4), states that it is “highly likely” that Obama will be sworn in and watch the Inauguration parade from behind a bulletproof shield for fear of an assassination attempt.

{mosads}Though it cites no specific threats against Obama, it underlines the country’s vulnerability during the transfer of presidential power, which could cause terrorists to attack.

“National security analysts believe that foreign and/or domestic terror groups may be emboldened during the presidential transition period, believing that federal government infrastructure will be particularly vulnerable during the handover from one administration to another,” the report states.

The Hill obtained the report, labeled “Limited Distribution — For Official Use Only,” which was sent to NC4’s clients.

It reveals that local and federal police plan to use more than 5,000 security cameras to look for suspicious activity in D.C. It also said security officials have designed a loudspeaker system along the parade route and on the National Mall “to communicate to the large Inauguration crowds should a large-scale disaster situation necessitate a mass evacuation of downtown D.C.”

The report pulled information from a number of federal and local government agencies to form one of the most comprehensive analyses of security concerns for the event, which is less than two weeks away.

NC4 is a private, California-based company that monitors security threats throughout the world 24 hours a day for private corporations and government entities. It regularly releases reports on security for high-profile events.

It received a multimillion-dollar contract last year to design an external information-sharing network (Secure Collaboration Portal) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). And it uses a combination of satellite imagery and emergency broadcast scanners to help federal and local government agencies assess potential threats and respond to emergencies.

“Around the Inauguration we will report any, mostly physical, events that happen in and around the area, and our Secure Collaboration Portal is going to be used by DHS’s Intelligence and Analysis division,” said Carrie Wohlgemuth, director of marketing for NC4.

The Secret Service, which is in charge of the event’s security, declined to comment on specific threats against Obama or some steps, such as the use of a bulletproof shield, it plans to take.

NC4 also said a transportation melee is certain to take place on Inauguration Day.

The Secret Service announced this week that all of the bridges crossing the Potomac River from Virginia into Washington would be restricted to “authorized vehicles” such as approved buses, taxis and emergency response teams.

Metro trains are expected to operate at maximum capacity, or at “crush-level,” and all Metro restrooms will also be closed for security reasons. Airlines have added dozens of flights to try to accommodate more passengers.

{mospagebreak}Amtrak is planning to operate at 50 percent above its normal capacity by adding trains and providing more cars. It also has bolstered its security forces, with chemical-weapons specialists and K-9 units expected to patrol Union Station in the days leading up to and through the Inauguration.

“Anywhere the leader of the free world goes, unfortunately, since we’re at war, he’s a target,” said John O’Connor, chief of the Amtrak Police Department.

Cell phone and landline phone use is also likely to be congested, and users can expect interruptions and delays in service, the report states.

{mosads}“Companies are investing significant amounts of time and money to expand their capacity to accommodate the expected increased demands on their networks, but there is only so much they can do with the spectrum and sites available to prepare for what could be an unprecedented occasion,” said Steve Largent, president and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association.

The report said several gay-rights groups may protest the speech of the Rev. Rick Warren, who has criticized homosexuality.

Supporters of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), a presidential candidate, are also planning to protest the event on college campuses throughout the country, including at George Washington University.

“One day of Barack Obama is enough; it’s time for change,” said Jeff Frazee, director of the Young Americans for Liberty, which objects to Obama’s support of the economic stimulus package, among other issues.

Frazee said they have not finalized plans yet and as of press time were not planning to obtain permits to attend the parade or gather on the National Mall to protest.

Potential protesters on the Mall will find it harder than normal to convey their message. The Secret Service has prohibited posters and signs in the Inauguration viewing area.

Art Spitzer, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, called the restrictions “nonsensical.” He cited a court ruling reached following President Clinton’s second Inauguration, which reinforced the rights of anti-abortion rights activists to carry signs in protest.

In addition to the 4,000 Washington police officers, 4,000 officers from departments around the country will be assisting with the event’s security. The U.S. Capitol Police is providing 1,600 officers, and several hundred U.S. Park Service Police units will also be on hand to provide additional security for their respective jurisdictions.

About 1,300 National Guard troops will be deployed throughout the National Mall viewing area during Inauguration Day, and up to 4,000 additional National Guardsmen will be held as an auxiliary force around the area in case of extreme emergency.

The Presidential Inauguration Committee did not return calls for comment by press time.