Friday, September 21, 2001
NFL tightens security
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Fans going to NFL games this weekend are being asked to arrive early, not plan to bring items into the stadium, and submit to much tighter security.
And while league security officials expect the game experience inside the stadium to be pretty much as usual, there won't be planes dragging advertising banners flying over the stadiums.
Not even blimps.
“I think fans want to see security,” said Milt Ahlerich, the NFL's director of security, during a conference call Thursday about the league's plans for this weekend's games — the first to be played since terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
“I certainly feel they're willing to put up with a little inconvenience.”
Ahlerich said the league asked the Federal Aviation Agency to prohibit flyovers at all 14 stadiums in use this weekend. He said the FAA passed the request along to its regional offices with the recommendation they comply.
Among the security provisions:
—A closer check on cars entering parking lots.
—Clearing parking spaces close to and inside the stadiums.
—A check on bags, with the recommendation that backpacks, large bags, even purses not be brought into the stadium. Any items that are carried in will be carefully searched.
—A recommendation that fans get to their seats earlier than usual to avoid a last-minute crush at gates where they will be screened.
—A much more visible uniformed police presence inside and outside stadiums.
Metal detectors will not be used, although Ahlerich said some stadiums will use metal-detecting wands on a random basis.
Similar security is expected to be in place for the rest of the regular season and perhaps longer, depending on world events. The league already has begun working on even stricter security for the Super Bowl, to be played at the Superdome in New Orleans.
The NFL also has created a task force, headed by Ahlerich and including stadium managers and security personnel from around the league, to work on long-term protection.
Lew Merletti, a former director of the Secret Service who has been the Cleveland Browns' security director for the past three years, is an anti-terrorist expert. He said fans need not worry about being safe in a packed stadium this or any other Sunday.
“The fans should feel very secure,” Merletti said. “You will have the best security league wide.”
Following last week's terrorist attacks, the NFL consulted with Merletti, 52, on the new security measures to be implemented this week. He also is part of the task force.
Merletti, a highly decorated member of the Army's Special Forces and a 25-year veteran of the Secret Service, said he and his security staff are prepared to make Browns Stadium a safe place.
“This is what we live for,” said Merletti. “It's nothing that we aren't prepared for. We have the methods.”
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NFL tightens security
