Who's guarding Beaver Stadium?

Louis Lombardi

In the past year, there have been a couple of reported breaches of security at Beaver Stadium. These stories did not garner much attention but should give pause to those who not only are in charge of security for the stadium but to all of us.

The first incident occurred last fall when someone removed the glasses from the Joe Paterno statue outside the stadium. The second incident occurred recently when three individuals entered the stadium; neither breach was immediately discovered. In fact, the latest breach of security was not discovered until nearly nine hours after it occurred.

Beaver Stadium is a terrorist target. It is most likely the No. 1 target in the region. As such, it deserves security measures commensurate with such a designation, but is the stadium getting such security?

As a first responder for the New York Police Department on Sept. 11, 2001, I understand the consequences of failure.

Now, the two breaches of security at Beaver Stadium were likely the actions of pranksters, but the goal of a prankster and terrorist is basically the same: to get in and out without being detected. The only difference is that if the terrorist is on a suicide mission, obviously that person need not get out. If pranksters can get in, so can a terrorist.

There are observable signs of security at the stadium, from gates to cameras; yet something is lacking and that is a police presence. Besides sporting events, there does not seem to be a police presence, and an adequate presence is an important aspect of security.

When the stadium is not in use it does not mean it is not a target. It must be watched constantly. An easy solution is to assign police officers there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is how a plot to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge was thwarted — police presence. Although there are significant costs to this, the costs pale in comparison if the stadium is destroyed or damaged.

The idea is to create omnipresence, which is a belief in everyone’s minds (terrorists and pranksters included) that the stadium is constantly being watched so that any attempt would be futile.

Right now, this is not the case. A further illustration of this point is the stadium security cameras. Does anyone think that if the cameras are being constantly monitored by the police that three individuals could get into and out of Beaver Stadium without being arrested?

Security camera recordings are excellent in helping solve crimes after the fact but are of little use in preventing a terrorist attack if they are not actively being monitored all the time.

Although law enforcement has put in place many security measures at Beaver Stadium, these additional measures of a constant police presence and active monitoring of the security cameras would significantly enhance security at the stadium. If Beaver Stadium is the No. 1 terrorist threat in the region, it must be treated as such. Anything less is unacceptable.

Louis Lombardi recently retired as a police captain from the New York City Police Department. A graduate of Penn State, he returned to the area with his family and lives in Patton Township. He now practices law and teaches criminal justice at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and can be reached at info@louislombardilaw.com.