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Law Enforcement Gets Into Gear For Super Bowl

News Channel 8 photo by PETER MASA

Among the special gear for the Super Bowl is the FBI's mine-resistant armored personnel carrier for the stadium's tactical protection plan.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2009

TAMPA - From dogs and Segways to helicopters and armored personnel carriers, law enforcement officials have assembled a smorgasbord of equipment and personnel to protect those attending the Feb. 1 Super Bowl.

Local, state and federal agencies showed off some of their gear for reporters today at the headquarters for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, across North Himes Avenue from Raymond James Stadium.

"We need to make sure everyone knows they'll be safe when they come to this Super Bowl," said Tampa police Maj. Marc Hamlin, who helped organize the contingent.

Tampa police officers displayed an amphibious tank, a tactical hostage-negotiation command vehicle and bomb-squad gear, including a spherical Total Containment Vessel, in which explosives can detonate safely.

Other agencies involved in the security plan include Tampa Fire Rescue, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

"It's fun to be part of an event like this," said Air Interdiction Agent William Lyon of the customs agency, one of the pilots of an AS350 helicopter that will patrol the skies.

The customs agency monitors the temporary flight restrictions throughout the week before the game and on game day, Lyon said. "If anybody comes through this air space, our job is to find out why they're there."

All of the agencies are working in tandem. For instance, FBI agents from the forensic and hazardous-materials team are providing personnel support to ATF, unless a shooting or other event forces them into regular duty.

"It'll be a very successful Super Bowl if both of our teams sit in the office," said Special Agent Charlotte Braziel of the FBI's Evidence Response Team.

The FBI is also providing a mine-resistant armored personnel carrier for the stadium's tactical protection plan. The 30,000-pound transport is the same type of vehicle used by the armed forces overseas, Special Agent Tom Bauer said. "It's also great for being in Florida with hurricanes and flooding. It's waterproof."

The show of force gave Hamlin an opportunity to exhibit a special badge bearing the National Football League's Super Bowl insignia. The NFL gave the police department permission to print commemorative badges for those working the event; Hamlin said he paid $52 for his out of his own pocket.

"It's a memento for me personally of the two years I've been working on the Super Bowl," he said.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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