Editorial introduction
In this post from John Cooley, readers are taken into one of the most underestimated parts of funeral planning: security. He outlines the risks that emerge when grief, public visibility, dignitaries, and potential threats all converge at once. For chiefs, chaplains, and coordinators, this is the kind of issue that cannot be improvised on the day of the service.
Yes, there may be times when security issues at a line-of-duty funeral become critically important. It should be obvious, but the funeral coordinator should let the experts determine any potential security threats and decide how they should be handled. The coordinator's job is to work within those guidelines and manage the funeral planning process accordingly.
I often encountered security directors for government officials who insisted on having their people in close proximity to their principal at all times. Not a problem—once they told me what they needed, all the coordinators affected, especially the traffic and seating coordinators, could plan accordingly.
The most common problem was having these security directors call me a couple of hours before the services started to tell me what they needed. Manageable? Yes. Frustrating? Also yes. I found that whenever a government official indicated they were going to attend, I contacted their office directly, spoke with their security director, and ensured we had a mutually acceptable plan well in advance.
Another security concern arose when the officer who was killed had been involved in an incident that involved the arrest, wounding, or killing of one or more suspects—often gang members. In those cases, retaliation was a real concern. This is when I relied on the SWAT commander, intelligence unit, bomb squad, and similar units to develop and implement a security plan. Then I could manage the funeral around it.
Many times the funeral plan was difficult to manage because of the time restraints involved in keeping the church or auditorium closed until bomb dogs and other personnel could clear it, and then keeping it closed. Other security concerns included motorcade routes that had to be evaluated for threats, as well as the interment location, the reception, and the agency headquarters. The deceased officer's home might also need to be protected. Officers on patrol may have had to be especially vigilant. The list goes on.
Police funerals are also a frequent target for protesters. Again, how they are dealt with or managed is not the coordinator's responsibility—but the security plan must be incorporated into the master funeral plan.
Security has to always be a consideration. Even when the incident involving the deceased officer carries no inherent threats, there may still be a person or group intent on targeting the police. And a funeral formation is as visible and vulnerable a setting as exists. A security evaluation should always be made, and an emergency tactical response plan should be part of the master funeral plan.
Funeral coordinators need to plan for the unexpected. If not you, who?
By John Cooley | Policefunerals.com