County, city add to security force for McCain

LIMA - A visit from a presidential candidate means important attention for a community, but for local police agencies, it also means more work and more money.

Secret Service agents oversaw security during Thursday's visit from presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain. Exactly how many of them there were was, as the name implies, a secret. But Lima Police Department and Allen County Sheriff's Office personnel came out in numbers to provide backup to the federal agents.

Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck said he had 25 extra deputies assisting in security. Extra officers were brought in for the day to assure regular county patrols were unaffected.

"We wanted to make sure we could maintain patrols in the county and still provide the requested assistance here," Beck said.

The county provided four canine units used to sniff for problems inside the Civic Center. Two other dogs and handlers were loaned to Marion, where McCain spoke earlier in the day, Beck said. The county also had a tactical team on standby, as well as the multicounty bomb squad.

"We don't anticipate problems, but they are available and ready just in case," Beck said.

Lima Police brought in eight additional officers to help manage traffic along McCain's route in and out of town.

"We're basically in charge of the motorcade, providing protection along the route in. We've also offered any available staff if they would need it," said Lima Police Department Major Kevin Martin.

The cost for the extra officers comes out of the individual departments' budgets, Beck said. It's the same case whenever a candidate or public figure comes to town.

"It doesn't matter if it's a Republican or Democrat or even if it's a candidate. When Jesse Jackson came to town, we provided extra security for that," Beck said. "The most tragic thing that can happen is for them to be hurt or killed in our town."

That fact doesn't keep people from second-guessing the amount of security provided when dignitaries come to town, Beck said.

"When everything goes well, they say we spend too much. If something happens, it was too little. My point is, when they come to this community, they will be safe," Beck said.