They’ve been tapped by their chiefs.
Forty-six Manatee County law enforcement officers will join others from across the nation to provide security at the Jan. 20 inauguration of the 45th president of the United States of America.
From Anna Maria Island, the contingent consists of Bradenton Beach Detective Sgt. Lenard Diaz and Officer John Tsakiri, Holmes Beach Sgt. Vern McGowin and officers Mike Walker, Joel Pierce and Tom Fraser.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office chose 12 deputies but not from the Anna Maria unit.
Heading up the local force of 46 is Josh Cramer, assistant chief for the Bradenton Police Department.
Cramer says the local group will be assigned to the Inaugural Parade route, a 2-mile stretch on Pennsylvania Avenue between the U.S. Capitol and the White House.
Coordinated by a U.S. Armed Forces inaugural committee, the parade will follow the swearing-in, but the time has not yet been announced.
The inauguration includes a week of festivities, including the ceremony when the vice-president-elect and president-elect take the oaths of office, the inaugural address, balls and galas, as well as the parade.
The Bradenton Police Department has participated at national inaugurations since 2005. HBPD participated in past presidential inauguration details under former Police Chief Jay Romine.
The invitation to join the inaugural security force has come through former Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski, previously serving the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department’s special operations, which coordinates the event every four years.
HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer said, “It’s a great opportunity to partake in a world-changing event.” He said it will cost the department only the price of cold weather gear.
Cramer said the officers’ travel, meals and salary will be reimbursed by the Metro police with federal funding.
“It’s a great honor to be asked,” said BBPD Chief Sam Speciale.
Diaz said he’s planning to bring along gas masks and riot helmets, as well as cold weather gear.
Asked whether threats of protest against the election of Donald Trump could make the trip a dangerous detail, Diaz believes it’ll be no different than previous inaugurations.
“I think it’s no different than with Obama — there was so much intel out there about that sort of thing when it was the first African-American president being celebrated,” Diaz said.
Having grown up in D.C. and on previous inaugural details, Cramer recalls his father riding his bicycle to Jimmy Carter’s inaugural address in 1981, the bitter cold when Ronald Reagan was sworn in to a second term and the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s collapse delaying the parade in 2009 at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
In addition to the island and county officers, Cramer will lead 21 of Bradenton’s officers, two officers from New College of Florida and four from the Palmetto Police Department.
He said the biggest concern for the group is inclement weather.
Holmes Beach’s McGowin agreed, adding he will ensure HBPD officers are prepared for the cold.
“I’m a Florida boy, so I’m sure it’s going to be cold.”
The forecast is between 15 degrees and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, McGowin said, adding, “odds are it’ll be closer 15.”
Cramer described the itinerary.
“We fly in on the 18th. On the 19th, we’ll be briefed and deputized by the U.S. Marshal’s (Service),” Cramer said, adding the local group will provide a 16-hour detail.
The officers will be granted nationwide authority for the event, he said.
“Early the next morning, they’ll take us back to the bus. There’s not much time for sightseeing,” he added.