The Super Bowl is no longer months away, but mere days. And as plans enter the final stages, fans are getting a better look at security and safety for the big game.
Former NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas explains how the SEAR-1 event designation the city was able to obtain brings in federal help.
Put simple, the fed presence in New Orleans will be heavy.
"There will be multiple agencies, cars that can see into cars as they drive by, many personnel," says Serpas.
The Bourbon Street terror attack still looms over the city like a shadow, which heightens everyone's awareness, he added. However, with so many agencies deployed to the City of New Orleans, who makes the final decisions?
Serpas says that the autonomy always comes back to the city.
"The NFL may have requests understandably after New Year's Eve, however it the deployment of tactical and enforcement measures will still be up to the city."
"The NFL may have requests understandably after New Year's Eve, however the deployment of tactical and enforcement measures will still be up to the city." That means, local law enforcement is working hand in hand with federal officials to keep revelers safe.
Those differences will include SWAT team members, armored vehicles, special agents on rooftops, government surveillance drones and extra security cameras around the city, according to DeLaune in the ESPN report. The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will patrol the Mississippi River and the Transportation Safety Administration will deploy more than 90 bomb-sniffing dogs.