The Charlie Kirk memorial was one of the most strongly fortified events of the genre, says an expert

The event included the remarks of President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and five members of the cabinet on Sunday. The range provided for an evaluation note for special events (SEAR) Level 1, which caused security measures and a price equally with a super bowl. And the Glendale State Farm Stade, Arizona, was filled with full capacity with around 70,000, while a nearby overflow site in Desert Diamond Arena held 10,000.

Toby Braun, expert in international security and founder of American Special Investigative Group, said Fortune The event was “one of the most fortified commemorative services in recent history of the United States”, with safety layers in all aspects of the environment, of the airspace above the place in the streets below.

Highly visible measurements included transparent ballistic glass on stage designed to withstand both the shots and explosive explosions, the TSA trigger control points, safety fences, road closings and vehicle control points-and a massive amount of law enforcement and private security, he said.

Other measures included counter -snake teams monitoring potential long -term threats to high positions, simple curl officers got involved in the crowd to identify suspicious behavior, anti -line systems protected the place from air threats – even if its retractable roof was closed for the event – and drones of application of the law.

In addition, explosive detection equipment, K9 scales and sealed drainage openings along the procession tracks added other protective layers to protect themselves against unconventional attack methods, added Braun.

The glass to the ball test was recalled the Potemobile, Eric O’Neill, former operator of fight against counter-terrorism and counterintelligence of the FBI, said FortuneThe addition of the security measure could become the “new future” for political speakers, especially those who cannot afford a secret detail. During his campaign in August 2024, Trump spoke behind a glass enclosure to the Ball test in Asheboro, NC, five weeks after an attempted assassination in Butler, Penn.

Everything said, the measures probably cost taxpayers an amount comparable to a Super Bowl security bill, said O’Neill. Even if the stadium authority underlined that it was a private event, the SEAR 1 notation mobilizes the federal coordination teams and the interagences support under the DHS and the secret services.

There is no official public estimate of the cost of the Kirk Memorial, and the DHS did not answer questions about the estimated costs of the event.

“It is so difficult to estimate the costs … Each city is different,” said Braun. “But it costs millions.”

Controversial fireworks

But a characteristic of the ceremony sparked a debate on its real contribution to security. Fireworks sprang directly beyond the scene where the president and others spoke, which had online criticisms questioning their need. Some experts say Fortune Pyrotechnics was more with a fanfare than prevention of threats.

“I thought it was more so that it looks a little more like a tent renewal,” said O’Neill.

He pointed out that a glass shield rarely used in glass enclosing the podium in a speaker protected anyone on stage more than fireworks. The case for the pyrotechnic offering an additional layer of protective was theoretical when the high -level leaders moved and outside the closed area between the speeches – the more the fact that the fireworks were not triggered continuously throughout the ceremony, added.

The use of fireworks to distract or alter the vision of a potential shooter is an “intelligent” socket, but would probably have no impact, in particular compared to the bullet-proof glass which would probably stop a ball, said O’Neill.

Richard Bradshaw, Director of Rebel Safety, advice specializing in security for cinema, television and live events, told Fortune It would be difficult to demonstrate how fireworks reduce risk in an overcrowded or emotionally sensitive environment.

“Pyrotechnics is generally designed for a visual impact, not to combat security threats,” he said.

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