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Thousands of people are headed to Phoenix this week, but some are not in town to watch the big game. They are there to help protect the players and fans at Super Bowl XLII and related events. 

We’re talking about the hundreds of FBI employees and other law enforcement personnel who have converged upon the Valley of the Sun in support of local police and public safety officials.

The Department of Homeland Security has designated the game a level one national security event, which allows federal agencies to bring in resources from across the country. Several federal agencies—including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the U.S. Secret Service; and the Department of Homeland Security, just to name a few—are in Arizona to do their part. In all, more than 30 federal, state, and local agencies are involved. 

Although local authorities are responsible for overall security, the FBI takes the lead in working to prevent terrorist attacks and in gathering, analyzing, and sharing intelligence related to potential threats. In addition to dozens of personnel responding from our Phoenix field office, we’ve sent more than 150 agents, intelligence analysts, bomb technicians, hazardous materials experts, SWAT professionals, crisis negotiators, police, and media representatives from across the country to the scene. 

Like the two teams squaring off on Sunday, it has taken us months of planning and teamwork to reach this big day. Good luck to both the Giants and Patriots! 

To read about our intelligence work at last year’s Super Bowl, see our story of July 13, 2007.   

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