Public Safety, Security a Priority for Boston Marathon

Public Safety, Security a Priority for Boston Marathon

Officials said there are no credible threats against this year’s Boston Marathon, but they are prepared for anything and everything.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Apr 15, 2019

The 123rd Boston Marathon begins today, with 7,000 law enforcement officials working in tandem to keep runners and attendees safe. About 1 million people are expected to attend this year’s marathon.

Officials have said there are no credible threats against the marathon this year, but they are prepared for anything and everything. The bombings that took place at the marathon in 2013 are at the forefront of everyone’s minds, as this year’s marathon will take place on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy.

"A lot of people can remember where they were on certain dates. I certainly know where I was April 15, 2013 at 2:49 p.m. I was on Boylston Street and I’ll never forget that," Boston Police Department Deputy Superintendent William Ridge said. "I’ll never forget what happened. And the men and woman of the Boston Police Department, as I said before, they kind of take it personal, what happened that day."

Security checkpoints will be deloyed throughout the event area. Officials recommend attendees leave their bags, bikes, coolers, backpacks, cans, bottles and other large items at home.

The Associated Press reports that state police helicopters will be monitoring events, and surveillance cameras have been placed at strategic spots along the marathon course. The route will be patrolled by hundreds of uniformed police and National Guard members, along with an undisclosed among of plainclothes officers mingling with spectators.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Headquarters will act as the Unified Coordination Center during the race, MEMA said. The UCC will host 250 liasons representing 70 federal and state agencies, along with nonprofits and private companies that will help coordinate safety at the race.

"It's been six years since terrorists struck at the core of our city," FBI special agent in charge, Joseph Bonavolonta, said. "And the worst thing we can do is become complacent or too comfortable. If you see something, say something."

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • 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

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

  • UL Solutions Launches Artificial Intelligence Safety Certification Services

    UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in safety science, today announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) safety certification services, enabling comprehensive assessments for evaluating the safety of AI-powered products. Read Now

  • ESA Announces Initiative to Introduce the SECURE Act in State Legislatures

    The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, has announced plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services. Read Now

    • Guard Services
Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.