Buffalo, NY (WBEN) After Wednesday's assassination of Charlie Kirk at an outdoor venue at a Utah campus, one former Buffalo Police captain says it may be a wise idea for colleges to rethink where to host such speakers.
Former Buffalo Police captain Jeff Rinaldo, now with Tarian Group, says different organizations hosting events where there is a guest speaker viewed as potentially controversial, will have to rethink the venues in which they have these events. "I've said it for a long time that outdoor events are very difficult to secure and police, depending on the location, anywhere from a rural site to an urban site to now a college campus, it's very difficult to secure the entire area that could pose a threat to the speaker or to the act on stage, per se," says Rinaldo. "So I think you will see more and more of these events are going to have to move indoors, where security has the ability to properly screen all of the people entering the facility, as well as do a security sweep prior to the event to ensure that nobody's inside the building and no weapons have been brought in."
Rinaldo consults with local colleges on occasional events. "I think that you're going to start to see more thoughts going into planning these in terms of the location of them, as well as probably from an event organizer standpoint, looking to see if there are different venues than what they've traditionally utilized," says Rinaldo.
Rinaldo says there are various things you could do to further enclose the speaker. "I think we've seen some of that since the attempted assassination on President Trump. But at the end of the day, you don't want to create an environment where you're putting people inside of bulletproof cages so that they can host an event or participate in one. So I think that you're going to have to reconsider where these events are held and in terms of how we can properly secure it, which is a very tough challenge in today's world," adds Rinaldo.
UB statement on tragic killing of Charlie Kirk in Utah:
“The horrific killing of Charlie Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday serves as a tragic reminder that violence of any kind has no place in our society. UB remains steadfast in its commitment to safe, civil, and peaceful dialogue across differences. Officials from UB’s Division of Student Life have been in contact with student club leaders—including UB’s Turning Point USA chapter, Young Americans for Freedom, as well as clubs such as UB’s LGBTA—to provide support and resources to those who may be struggling with the effects of Wednesday’s tragedy. As a precaution, UB Police have increased staff and added patrols, increasing visibility so the university feels safe and secure. UB’s police department is highly trained and regularly conducts assessments of security plans, resources and protocols during the course of the year, prior to campus events and in the aftermath of incidents that happen on campuses across the country."
Background on UB’s Event Security:
• UB Police are highly trained and manage all aspects of event security in coordination with event organizers and outside agencies, including risk assessment and operational planning before an event, increased staffing, implementing security checks upon entrance and maintaining a strong police presence both inside and outside the venue.
• UB Police also maintain Mutual Aid agreements with neighboring law enforcement agencies that can provide assistance with event security.
• Any time a guest speaker comes to campus for an event, UB Police’s focus is on maintaining a safe, secure environment so that the speaker and all parties can peacefully express their views.
• Before a guest speaker event can be scheduled and finalized, UB Police review logistical planning for events, including identifying appropriate venue space, formalizing ticketing procedures and managing attendance.
• Event organizers are required to work closely with UB Police on the development of a security plan that must include the review and approval of event space and careful consideration of the time and manner in which an event is held.
• Enhanced educational programming for students has been implemented in recent years to create a better understanding of free speech protections and the value of free expression; the parameters of peaceful protest; and the need to abide by SUNY policy and state law regarding the maintenance of public order.
• In addition, the university’s Freedom of Assembly Support Team provides pre- event and on-site guidance to students regarding free speech protections and peaceful protest. This includes the right of individuals to oppose the views of others, but not in such a way that shouts down the speaker or interferes with university operations. As a university community, we all have a responsibility to abide by public rules of order and maintain a climate of respect.
• University Police also work closely with University Communications on development, implementation and testing of comprehensive emergency communications plans and technologies that will alert and provide direction to the university community during an incident that affects the health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors.