Oscars Brought Heightened Security Like Never Before

Oscars Brought Heightened Security Like Never Before

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Feb 23, 2015

Movies are a big player in the American culture as people swarm to movie theaters, purchase overpriced tubs of butter-drenched popcorn and sugary soft drinks before entering a twilight-lit room of fluffy chairs. Movie-goers quickly find their seats in great anticipation of seeing their favorite actors and actress on the big screen. The lights dim, sounds of popcorn crunching and slurps of soda can be heard as the flick begins.

Last night, the 2015 Oscar Awards was televised on most major, local television channels for all to see, and from the news this morning, it looks like it went off without any security issues. In most part, this is due to “Operation Oscar,” a state-of-the art, underground bunker with a makeshift command center at a Hollywood soundstage where the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) commander and a task force of approximately 1,000 officers from agencies like the FBI and Department of Homeland Security hang out. The area around Hollywood is divided into concentric rings that require progressively higher levels of protection, the closer you get to the inner circle.

Early morning on Sunday, February 22, 2015, the prep work began. LAPD officers performed a block-by-block sweep of the surrounding neighborhood and by 3pm, the streets surrounding Dolby Theater were locked down. Sharpshooters were positioned on top of buildings, and approximately 600 uniformed cops surrounded the perimeter of the facility.

Public modes of transportation were rerouted away from the target area and every vehicle entering the “red zone” were searched for possible bombs and/or guns. As guests arrived, they were ushered into a large tent that was located out of the sight of television cameras and there, celebrities and civilians passed through a metal detector. There were also undercover offices in formal wear mingling among the celebrities while other officers dressed in sneakers and L.A. Clippers hats patrolled the bleachers.

Here are some other tactics used to keep the Oscars ceremony safe and secure:

  • Spotters used power binoculars to scan for suspicious activities.
  • Hazmat unit patrols used sensors to check for radiation levels, and biological and chemical agents.
  • Vapor wake bomb detection dogs were used by LAPD.
  • Manholes were carefully inspected by police.
  • A hazardous materials robot was on standyby, ready to respond if necessary.
  • Concrete barriers were strategically placed across Hollywood Blvd. to slow down any kamikaze drivers.
  • The Bomb Assessment Tactical Counter Assault Tool, BatCat, was on the scene in event an explosive vehicle was near. This machine can pick up these vehicles and relocate them to be detonated.

Ultimately, no security plan is perfect; however, the hope is to have effective contingency plans in place in the event the unexpected occurs.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”