Oy:
[The Inauguration] will be overseen by the U.S. Secret Service and will include 7,500 active-duty soldiers, 10,000 National Guard troops and 25,000 law-enforcement officers, security officials said.
I realize that security is a reasonable concern, but those numbers still give me pause. Any time you get that many cops together, something’s bound to go off. What? That seems unfair? DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier seems to take that view of the public:
Lanier said city officials realized they would need a different plan from previous inaugurals after the spontaneous response to Obama’s victory on Election Night.
Thousands took to the city’s streets, setting off sparklers and shouting from cars. Although “they were hugging police officers,†the size of the crowds signaled potential problems, she said.
That’s right – you just can’t let the people get together and celebrate without making sure that you’ve got riot shields, helmets, and truncheons on hand.