Security for the Annapolis ConferenceBureau of Diplomatic SecurityWashington, DC November 23, 2007 State Department Diplomatic Security Special Agents to Coordinate Conference Security The State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) will coordinate security for the Annapolis Conference November 27, 2007. The U.S. Department of State will host the event. The conference has been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Special Event Activity Report (SEAR) 2 security special event. To place the security requirements of this conference in context, a SEAR 1 security special event would be the Super Bowl. The SEAR classification system assesses the availability of federal, state, and local law enforcement resources in combination with the perceived threat level to the event. For SEAR classifications of 1 or 2, a federal official is named as a security coordinator. At Annapolis, a DS Special Agent has been named as the Federal Coordinator for the event and DHS will provide a Deputy Federal Coordinator. In order to provide a secure environment for the meeting, DS will work with several federal and local law enforcement agencies including: the United States Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the United States Coast Guard, the Maryland State Police, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Annapolis, MD Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and other federal, state, and local agencies. Over 100 individuals will attend the conference, including several heads of state and foreign ministers. Security for the conference is an enormous undertaking requiring weeks of preparation. DS must coordinate security at the venues, provide protective security details, and arrange the transportation of the individuals participating. While these responsibilities are complex, DS has substantial experience coordinating major events. For instance, DS oversees security at the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City, and plays an important role in Olympic Games and other international sporting events. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State’s law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic missions around the world and eight domestic field offices. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the U.S. Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigate passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds. Contact: |
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