As a police expert, I envision substantial complications looming with regard to local law enforcement officials when the Casey Anthony show, or rather murder trial, starts on May 9 here in my own home metropolis of Orlando, Fl. Even though many tend to be focusing on the latest court motions and rulings, Administrators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (the law enforcement agency charged with court security), the Orlando Police Department, as well as other individuals are meeting behind closed doors working out the strategies and contingency plans. Of course, the Sheriff’s Office properly knows the case itself since they have been the lead agency in the Caylee Anthony case investigation from the start.
Many have lamented the reality that large tons of assets will end up being used from additional elements of local law enforcement particularly the Sheriff’s Office. While that is correct, I don’t feel that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has much choice. While I fully grasp the actual torment on the part regarding other victims of criminal offenses who don’t garner the same amount of attention, I understand that the Sheriff’s Office has to deal with the predicaments they tend to be presented. It is the identical with emergency services. They cannot inform an individual that they can’t respond due to the fact no one is available. Whenever it comes to concerns of public safety, law enforcement has to be situated in order to take proper care of the probable or current hazard. When they do dash to those emergency services telephone calls, or the issues encircling the Casey Anthony trial, additional parts do get much less interest. If it is anybody’s wrong doing, it’s Casey Anthony’s (if she really does wind up up getting found guilty).
The Issues
Certainly there is the front entrance security, but there are additionally a variety of other concerns that few have considered, but that the law enforcement folks are likely considering. As a past police chief who has dealt with court safety troubles, I envision a variety of problems to end up being handled. Precedent situations consists of settings such as the Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson trials. Those who watched those legal proceedings, recognize full well that order and chaos are generally not really far apart particularly when all the attendant issues are not prepared for.
Courthouse Security
The totally obvious one, courtroom and courthouse front entrance security is obviously the first type of defense and where a significant quantity of resources will be used up. The room will become jam-packed with good friends and family members from both parties, as well as the large numbers of mass media that will be descending on Orlando. Judge Belvin Perry has already devised a system with regard to selecting individuals who are vying for the restricted supply of chairs at the trial
While Orlando is accustomed to being host to a bevy of higher profile superstars, the trial will bring star news individuals to the land of Disney. The existence of those folks will bring its own collection of safety considerations. At a minimum, Police officers and deputy sheriffs will undoubtedly be reacting to occurrences large as well as small regarding these types of personalities.
Threats
Casey Anthony’s unique form of celebrity has already created a rabid crowd of defenders as well as detractors. Some of those individuals are a little on the, shall we say, psychologically unhinged part of the specrum, and will mail letters of differing severity of threats to the different participants in this case. The receipients would certainly consist of members of the prosectuion and also defense teams (which includes lightning rod Jose Baez), Judge Belvin Perry, Casey, Cindy, Geoge, along with Lee Anthony, as well as members of the mass media who may possibly be thought of as not really reporting the case seeing as an individual might desire them to.
Whomever the particular target, law enforcement (and it will come mostly to Sheriff Jerry Demings’ Orange County Sheriff’s Office) will certainly have to carry out a threat review to be able to ascertain the veracity and significance of the note author. That will take assets and is no easy undertaking.
Just question the United States Secret Service and its special agents who have significant experience in assessing prospective dangers to the President, Vice President, and various other dignitaries. Nearer to the targets that are present in this particular case, the United States Marshals Service has long had a specialty of safeguarding federal government judges and providing court house safety. And almost certainly no organization has far more expertise with superstar and high profile trials than the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
Risk evaluation and target protection is not an undertaking for the ill-trained or run of the mill law enforcer. Seasoned, expert investigators will end up being put on the case.
Back when I worked in a Sheriff’s Office Courthouse Division, I examined threat notes delivered to judges. These were evidently mentally out of kilter individuals penning the notes. Their obvious psychological condition makes them no less a threat to the protectee.
Road Traffic
Coping with the increase of cars into the downtown area Orlando is going to be yet another headache that falls on the shoulders of law enforcement. Not only will the additional motor vehicles create an problem, but the existence of the media will bring its unique set of difficulties. Massive satellite live trucks will have to find places to park that afford advantageous easy access to the courthouse, but doesn’t slow down the flow of automobile traffic. Furthermore, a few press types will be arriving with mobile homes in tow to house them in the course of the two month trial. Those additionally will certainly have to be parked someplace that operates for all involved.
Jury Security
And then there is the matter regarding the jury. A lot like the prosecution, defense, and Anthony family protectees, there will be the added possible targets in the jurors as well as alternative jurors. Like many judges, Judge Perry will look to not provide a rationale to be overturned on appeal. Judges hate to be overturned, so he is going to wish to continue to keep individuals at a distance from them such as especially aggressive members of the press or the public.
To its credit, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is a skilled agency with in excess of 3,000 staff members. It is no stranger to higher profile scenarios or public critique. They will be on the world-wide stage as the world will observe all facets of the trial incredibly cautiously. I totally expect to see that they will rise to the obstacle with perhaps a few simple to comprehend errors on the road.
For more information on Casey Anthony case interviews, go to Dr. Weinblatt’s website www.policeexpert.info. Dr. Richard Weinblatt, The Cop Doc, is a former police chief and criminal justice professor who has been interviewed by local and national media including CBS News, CNN, HLN, and MSNBC.