Officials joined Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett Beliveau to discuss topics ranging from law enforcement and incident management to transportation, medical and fire safety planning.
Federal government participants included representatives from the Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, departments of Health and Human Services and Defense, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Park Police, Capitol Police, General Services Administration, and Smithsonian Museum.
District of Columbia representatives participated from the Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency, Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia Fire Department and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Maryland and Virginia State Police and respective state Department of Transportation officials also took part in the discussion.
The preparation for an event of this magnitude is a cooperative effort. No single entity can implement necessary security measures on its own. At present, 58 federal, military, state and city law enforcement and public safety agencies are working together to ensure a safe and smooth event.
Secretary Chertoff designated the 2009 Presidential Inauguration a National Special Security Event (NSSE) on Oct. 20, 2008, though cooperative planning for the event began as early as July 2008. The Secret Service assumes its mandated role as the lead agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan for any NSSE.
