Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2002
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
AG
(202) 616-2777
TDD (202) 514-1888

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE STATEMENT REGARDING OLYMPIC SECURITY


WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a statement from Barbara Comstock, Director of Public Affairs:

"Attorney General John Ashcroft's proposal to increase the law enforcement presence at the Winter Olympics is in response to his visit to Salt Lake City earlier this month and the extensive meetings that he had with the excellent state-of-the-art security operation in place for the Olympics. As the Attorney General expressed in Salt Lake City, he was tremendously impressed with the unprecedented and seamless cooperation of over 60 agencies involved in the Olympics and the cooperative leadership in place to provide security.

"As the Attorney General also stated in Salt Lake City, he trusted that this state-of-the-art operation would continue to fine tune and improve operations up to and throughout the Olympic events and that he would continue to assist this effort in any way possible. The Winter Olympics pose an enormous security challenge with 17 days of events in 15 venues and other areas covering more than 900 square miles. The challenges inherent in this effort demonstrate the need for constant vigilance.

"Half the world will be watching various parts of these ceremonies which will be a showcase to demonstrate peace, character, and the human spirit at its best. The Attorney General is confident that our excellent Olympic security efforts led by UOPSC - the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command - are more than up to that task and will set a new standard, a model of cooperation and integration. The Attorney General will continue to do everything he can to support them in this cooperative effort."

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