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JASON FARMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Runners approach the finish line of the Steamtown Marathon in 2016. Security at the race was already increased following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
Additional security measures and personnel will be in place to ensure the public’s safety at Sunday’s Steamtown Marathon in light of last week’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, race organizers and police officials said.
Jim Cummings, the marathon’s assistant director, said security forces will follow enhanced plans that were developed following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
“We are building on the already stringent security plans based on what happened at Boston,” Cummings said. “We’ve gone to great lengths to significantly increase security more than it was years ago.”
Some of those security enhancements, which include barring runners from bringing duffle bags to the start line, targeted stationary items that could pose a threat. The Vegas shooting, in which a gunman sprayed a hail of bullets into a crowd from the 32nd floor of a hotel, highlights the threat of other types of violence.
Cummings said police asked race officials, for security purposes, not to disclose specifics regarding how they plan to address that type of threat.
“They are certainly aware of what happened in Vegas and how it happened and are taking measures to make sure it doesn’t happen here,” he said.
The 26.2 mile race starts at Forest City Regional High School and winds its way through the Midvalley before ending at Courthouse Square in Scranton. This year, nearly 1,800 people registered to take part in the race, which also draws thousands of spectators.
Scranton police Chief Carl Graziano also said he could not provide specific details of security plans, other than to confirm additional personnel will be deployed.
“We have pre-race, special operations in place to try to identify threats and minimize the potential for any catastrophic events,” he said.
Cummings and Graziano reminded spectators and participants to be extra vigilant of their surroundings. Organizers prefer spectators not bring any bags, but if they do, do not leave them unattended. They also should not hold a bag for anyone they don’t know, he said.
“If they see something that seems amiss, speak to one of the police officers,” Cummings said.
Contact the writer:
tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137
Article Tools Font size + Share This JASON FARMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Runners approach the finish line of the Steamtown Marathon in 2016 Security at the race was already increased following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 Additional security measures and personnel will be in place to ensure the public’s safety at Sunday’s Steamtown Marathon in light of last week’s mass shooting in Las Vegas race organizers and police officials said Jim Cummings the marathon’s assistant director said security forces will follow enhanced plans that were developed following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing We are building on the already stringent security plans based on what happened at Boston Cummings said We’ve gone to great lengths to significantly increase security more than it was years ago Some of those security enhancements which include barring runners from bringing duffle bags to the start line targeted stationary items that could pose a threat The Vegas shooting in which a gunman sprayed a hail of bullets into a crowd from the 32nd floor of a hotel highlights the threat of other types of violence Cummings said police asked race officials for security purposes not to disclose specifics regarding how they plan to address that type of threat They are certainly aware of what happened in Vegas and how it happened and are taking measures to make sure it doesn’t happen here he said The 26.2 mile race starts at Forest City Regional High School and winds its way through the Midvalley before ending at Courthouse Square in Scranton This year nearly 1,800 people registered to take part in the race which also draws thousands of spectators Scranton police Chief Carl Graziano also said he could not provide specific details of security plans other than to confirm additional personnel will be deployed We have pre-race special operations in place to try to identify threats and minimize the potential for any catastrophic events he said Cummings and Graziano reminded spectators and participants to be extra vigilant of their surroundings Organizers prefer spectators not bring any bags but if they do do not leave them unattended They also should not hold a bag for anyone they don’t know he said If they see something that seems amiss speak to one of the police officers Cummings said Contact the writer tbesecker@timesshamrock.com 570-348-9137