WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States Secret Service, in partnership with the Office of Homeland Security, will sponsor a Major Event Management Seminar, September 4-6, 2002 in Washington, D.C. The seminar's objective is to provide law enforcement executives, public safety managers, and other key event planners with an overview of the fundamental principles and models for managing security aspects of major events, and strategies for reducing vulnerabilities related to terrorism and other criminal acts.
Command-level law enforcement and public safety officials from jurisdictions where major events will take place in the next year are scheduled to attend the seminar.
The U.S. Secret Service has long been involved in the design and implementation of security plans for events of national significance. In December 2000, the Presidential
Protection Act of 2000 became public law. Included in the bill was a new sub-section which authorized the Secret Service to participate in the planning, coordination, and
implementation of security operations at special events of national significance, as determined by the President.
With this new direction, the Secret Service formally assumed a role it had held for many events -- the lead federal agency for large events such as presidential inaugurations, major
international summits or conferences held in the United States and presidential campaign events and conventions. In addition, events such as Super Bowl XXXVI and the 2002
Winter Olympics have been designated to receive this special security status.
We have developed a core strategy of forming partnerships with law enforcement, the military, and other public safety officials that has helped bring all of the key players
together in planning for these events, U.S. Secret Service Director Brian L. Stafford said. Through this seminar, we hope to provide state and local law enforcement, event
staff and public safety professionals with key strategies and lessons learned from past major events.