Security at 'Mass Transit' Super Bowl to Be Team Effort

Protecting fans at Super Bowl XLVIII is going to be a team effort. That was the message projected loudly and clearly in a news conference Wednesday at MetLife Stadium. Officials from six federal, state and local agencies joined NFL chief security officer Jeffrey Miller to discuss preparations for the first Super Bowl in the New York City metropolitan area.

"I don't think, with respect to the four teams here on Feb. 2, that they'll be as prepared as the team sitting up here," Chief Christopher Trucillo of the New Jersey Transit Police said.

Besides Trucillo, leaders from the New Jersey State Police, FBI, Port Authority Police, Department of Homeland Security and NYPD addressed how they planned to ensure the safety of fans, players and stadium personnel at what is billed as the first "mass transit" Super Bowl.

The New Jersey State Police will have about 700 troopers on the premises at the stadium on game day. Including contracted civilian personnel, about 4,000 people will be on the premises dedicated to security. About 100 agencies, including the Coast Guard, are involved. Screening similar to that at airports will be used. The NFL policy that severely restricts the size of bags will be enforced.

"Every countermeasure we have will be put in place. Twenty weeks of the season we do this," said Lt. Col. Edward Cetnar of the New Jersey State Police. "We're pretty good at what we do here."

Said FBI special agent in charge Aaron Ford: "No one attending this great event should have to worry about anything other than whether their local team will win."