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Gettysburg Police Chief Robert Glenny said all Gettysburg parade routes and outdoor events, including Saturday’s Remembrance Day parade, will be “hardened” with extra security to keep citizens safe.
The safety measures involve installing concrete “Jersey” barriers at parade route intersections, parking large vehicles to block vehicle access in some places, overwatch (drone) aircraft to keep an eye on the crowd, and the use of explosive-sensing detection dogs.
“You’ll see a lot more uniformed presence along the route. And we have some plainclothes folks,” said Glenny.
Glenny said the security work will be done by borough police, Gettysburg Municipal Authority workers, as well as help from surrounding areas including Latimore Township, Bendersville Borough, Cumberland Township, the Adams County Sheriff, Pennsylvania State Police, and the South Central Regional Task Force.
“In the past we’ve done a good job of directing traffic around events, but now we need to secure the event itself,” said Glenny. “That’s the way we have to do it now. It’s the society we live in,” he said.
Glenny said his decision to make the routes more secure was “a matter of experience. With the Gettysburg moniker comes a target. If something happens here folks get more press, nationally and even internationally. That makes it a more attractive target.”
Although there is a potential threat from terrorist-type activities, Glenny said even traffic accidents could cause problems. “A crashed car could end up on the top of spectators,” he said.
“This is industry standard now. I won’t sacrifice convenience for public safety. We have to really make sure we’re keeping people as safe as we can. I’d be remiss if I didn’t,” said Glenny.
Glenny admitted the new procedures would be expensive. The costs “are really going up. Public works is expensive,” he said.
Glenny said the new procedures will cost parade organizers “about twice as much,” because the borough charges event organizers for costs above and beyond normal operations.
Glenny said in the future standardized parade routes should help reduce costs.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.