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ATF Supports Super Bowl Security at Super Bowl XLIII

January 30, 2009

Not everyone participating in this year’s Super Bowl is a football player. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has fielded its best players to help prepare for a safe and secure Super Bowl XLIII. These pros include ATF K-9 explosives detection teams that have been deployed to Tampa from around the country.

Tampa FD SAC at news conference Meet the Press —Virginia O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Tampa Field Division, with NFL Security Chief Milt Aldridge (standing) and FBI Tampa Field Division SAC.  “The canine teams that are here in Tampa for the Super Bowl are the best of the best,” O’Brien noted.  “Like the football teams that will be playing in the Super Bowl, these handlers and their canine partners have been training and preparing all year for this event. ATF and our law enforcement partners have been working closely and planning for this event for two years. We are proud to say that the only thing the fans have to worry about is whether their team wins or loses.”
   
ATF bomb suit on display at Super Bowl XLIII Media Day Take Me to Your Leader — No, this isn’t a visitor from beyond the stars.  It’s an ATF bomb suit that was on display during an ATF and Tampa Police Media Day event held January 28 in Gas Light Park. The event was designed to give reporters a chance to look and learn about the law enforcement assets being deployed during Super Bowl XLIII.  The photo opportunity included hands-on interactive demonstrations of explosives canine capabilities and explosives investigation equipment (including the bomb suit above, as well as X-ray equipment and an explosives disrupter).
   
ATF canine Sunshine at canine demonstration

Decision Time — With ATF Canine Handler Kent Slay looking on, ATF canine ‘Sunshine’ carefully ponders which of the two Super Bowl contenders —the Steelers or  Cardinals­— he thinks will win Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday.  Sunshine eventually gave the Cardinals helmet a sniff, indicating his preference for the underdogs. ATF explosives detection canine teams have been deployed to Tampa from around the country to help locate any type of explosives that might be in close proximity to the Raymond James Stadium or any other venues relating to the big game. ATF’s canine teams are working side-by-side with other federal, state and local law enforcement officers to keep the football teams and fans safe throughout this event.  

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