Casey Anthony Trial Security Issues: A Police Expert's Commentary

As a police expert, I see sizable issues looming with regard to local law enforcement officials when the Casey Anthony show, or rather murder trial, roll-outs on May 9 right here within my own home metropolis of Orlando, Florida. While many tend to be centering on the latest courtroom motions and rulings, officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Office (the law enforcement organization charged with court security), the Orlando Police Department, and others are meeting behind closed doors working out the approaches and backup blueprints. Of course, the Sheriff's Office well knows the case itself as they have been the lead agency in the Caylee Anthony case investigation from the start.

Many have lamented the fact that large tons of resources will certainly be used from additional elements of local law enforcement especially the Sheriff's Office. While that is accurate, I do not feel that the Orange County Sheriff's Office has very much choice. While I recognize the actual pain on the part regarding some other affected individuals of crime who don't garner the identical degree of interest, I realize that the Sheriff's Office has to manage the predicaments they tend to be presented.

It is identical with 911. They cannot tell an individual that they cannot respond because absolutely no one is readily available. Whenever it comes to things of public safety, law enforcement has to be situated in order to take proper care of the probable or current threat. When they do go to those 911 calls, or the difficulties encircling the Casey Anthony trial, other parts of the crime response picture do obtain less attention. If it is anyone's failing, it's Casey Anthony's (if she does wind up up getting found guilty).

The Concerns

Certainly there will be the front doorway security, but there are also a quantity of other issues that very few have thought about, but that the law enforcement folks are likely pondering. As a past police chief who has dealt with court safety problems, I see a wide variety of difficulties to end up being tackled. Precedent situations involve venues such as the Michael Jackson as well as O.J. Simpson trials. Those who observed those legal actions, recognize full well that order and chaos are not far away from each other particularly when all the attendant concerns are not projected for.

Courthouse Protection

The obvious one, courtroom as well as courthouse front doorway security is evidently the first type of defense and where a sizeable quantity of assets will be expended. The court room will certainly be crammed with good friends as well as loved ones from both sides, as well as the hordes of press that will be descending on Orlando. Judge Belvin Perry has previously devised a system with regard to picking individuals who are vying for the minimal supply of chairs at the trial

While Orlando is used to being host to a bevy of higher profile stars, the trial will bring celebrity news individuals to the land of Disney. The existence of those men and women will produce its own collection of safety concerns. At a minimum, patrol officers and deputy sheriffs will undoubtedly be reacting to incidents large and tiny concerning these types of personalities.

Threats

Casey Anthony's special type of celebrity has already produced a rabid group of defenders as well as detractors. A few of those people are a little on the, shall we state, emotionally unhinged part of the spectrum, and will send notes of varying severity of threats to the different participants in this trial. The recipients would consist of participants of the prosecution as well as defense groupings (including lightning rod Jose Baez), Judge Belvin Perry, Casey, Cindy, George, and Lee Anthony, as well as associates of the media who may possibly be perceived as not really reporting the case as a person might wish them to.

Whomever the objective, law enforcement (and it will fall largely to Sheriff Jerry Demings' Orange County Sheriff's Office) will certainly have to perform a threat analysis in order to determine the veracity as well as significance involving the note writer. That will need resources and is no straightforward task.

Just check with the United States Secret Service and its special agents who have serious expertise in assessing potential dangers to the President, Vice President, as well as various other dignitaries. Nearer to the targets that are present in this case, the United States Marshals Service has long experienced a specialty of defending federal judges and supplying courthouse protection. And most likely no agency has more expertise with star and high profile trials than the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office.

Risk evaluation and target protection is not an endeavor for the ill-trained or run of the mill law enforcer. Skilled, experienced detectives will be placed on the case.

Back when I worked in a Sheriff's Office Courthouse Division, I looked into threat letters sent to judges. These were clearly emotionally out of kilter individuals writing the comments. Their clear mental condition makes them no less a threat to the protectee.

Vehicular Traffic

Controlling the increase of cars into the downtown area of Orlando is going to be one more throbbing headache that falls on the shoulders of law enforcement. Not only will the extra motor vehicles cause an concern, but the existence of the media will carry its unique set of complications. Sizable satellite television live trucks will have to discover areas to park that afford handy accessibility to the courthouse, but does not impede the movement of vehicular traffic. Additionally, a few media types will be pouring in with mobile homes in tow to house them throughout the couple of month trial. Those additionally will certainly have to be left somewhere that works for all involved.

Jury Security

And then there is the matter of the jury. A lot like the prosecution, defense, and Anthony household protectees, there will be the further probable targets in the jurors and alternative jurors. Like most judges, Judge Perry will look to not provide a factor to be overturned on appeal. Judges hate to be overturned, so he is going to want to hold individuals apart from them which includes really aggressive members of the press or the general public.

To its credit, the Orange County Sheriff's Office is a competent agency with over 3,000 staff members. It is simply no complete stranger to higher profile scenarios or public analysis. They will certainly end up being on the worldwide stage as the world will sit back and watch almost all elements of the trial incredibly carefully. I entirely expect that they will ascend to the obstacle with probably a couple of comprehensible snags on the way.

Dr. Richard Weinblatt, The Cop Doc, is a former police chief and criminal justice professor.  More information on the Casey Anthony case and other police expert issues are available at http://www.PoliceExpert.Info .