Boston Marathon 2018 Security: What To Know

BOSTON, MA — Some 8,000 police, FBI and security officials will be out along the the marathon route on Marathon Monday for the 122nd running of the Boston Marathon on April 16. This year marks the fifth year since the Marathon Bomb shook the finish line and forced security officials to ramp up their efforts on the day.

There have been no credible threats this year to the Boston Marathon, said head of the State Police Col. Kerry Gilpin and the head of the MBTA police. Still, the main message as security officials briefed the public on what they've been planning for the past six months, was "if you see something, say something."

What Security Looks Like

This year the safety and security plan looks like and is very similar to what we have seen the last four years, said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Kurt Schwartz.

Here's what you'll see at this year's Boston Marathon: Security checkpoints, bomb-sniffing dogs, uniformed police officers, private security, fire officials and emergency management teams, helicopters.

Here's what you probably won't notice: drone-sensing equipment attached with snaking wires to the tops of light poles, extra security cameras up and down the route, plain-clothes police officers roaming the crowd.
Here's what you definitely won't see: the more than 250 security personnel amassed in a MEMA bunker.

"The strength of our partnerships, experience learned over the past five years, and the detailed preparation planning and execution of our security plan should ease any concerns for the runners or the public who plan to enjoy this event," said FBI's Hank Shaw.

That Framingham hub represents the beating heart of the sprawling security operation — communication. It's what helps manage a security infrastructure comprised of more than 70 local, regional and federal forces across eight different municipalities.

That hub, referred to as the Multi-Agency Coordination Center, held roughly 75 people on Marathon day in 2013, Patch previously reported. In 2016 that number went up to about 225 inside the bunker and this year it edges over 250, managing a force of between 7,000 and 8,000 public safety officials and volunteers.

What not to bring:

Schwartz asked that spectators use "simple common sense guidelines," meaning they should not bring backpacks, roller bags, coolers, over the shoulder bags, no glass bottles or containers that could hold more than 1 liter.

"Please do not bring sticks, polls, signs, props, or any weapon or any item that might be used as a weapon," he said, asking people if they had to carry anything to do so in a clear plastic bag.

Drones will not be permitted along the course, he said, but noted that there will be three tethered security drones, two in Hopkinton and one in Natick flying about 400 feet supporting public safety.

Five years later:

Security personnel say they've learned from their experience during the 2013 Boston Marathon that changed security for the Patriot's Day event, and the subsequent years.

Boston area security officials, including Boston Police, State Police, the MBTA Police and Boston FBI units as well as police from the at least five of the other municipalities along the route said they couldn't quantify an increase in threats but said they understood the change and evolution of the threat over the years. They said that radicalization to mobilization period has changed rapidly.

The threat continues to change, so officials said they have had to change with it. And the amount that the region spends on security increases, along with it.

"We are laser focused on finding and stopping any potential threat," said Shaw of the FBI Boston field office, adding officials were working around the clock to that end. "I can assure you we are, and will be, addressing each and every tip with speed and thoroughness and will continue to push forward with one shared goal: stopping those to seek to do us harm."

The BAA official Tom Grilk noted that with some 50,000 athletes, nearly 10,000 volunteers, hundreds of thousands of spectators and of 52 miles of roadway that was a lot to plan for.

"When man plans, God laughs... Something always happens," said Grilk. "And yet knowing that things can happen we are immensely grateful [for all the safety and security planning and planners] because they are ready."

>>(For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to your Free neighborhood Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Photo of the press conference Tuesday, courtesy State Police