California TSA team supports annual parade and football game

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

This year's Tournament of Roses® parade theme - Dream. Believe. Achieve - truly captured TSA's commitment to the mission. Countless hours of planning culminated in days of meticulous execution that successfully safeguarded prominent national events and critical infrastructure.

Hollywood Burbank Airport's (BUR) Federal Security Director (FSD) Anita Minaei served as the Field Event Coordinator (FEC), leading the agency's collaborative effort in security support for the 5.5-mile parade route and surrounding Rose Bowl® activities in Pasadena, California.

If you tuned into the parade in the comfort of your home on New Year's morning, take a moment to consider the outstanding work done by Los Angeles International Airport canine teams working through the chilly New Year's Eve.

LAX Canine teams on the job New Year's eve. (Photo courtesy of TSA BUR)

Overnight, they swept and secured the famed TV corner, the location where global media teams broadcast the parade live. The two and four-legged teams also assisted along the parade route and at grandstand turnstiles throughout the day.

Nineteen TSA and Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service members considered it a labor of love to help secure the annual event, while BUR was designated the official airport and expertly screened the special event-sized passenger loads with vigilance and professionalism.

"The Rose Parade ® and Rose Bowl ® football game have a deeply rooted history in our area and are known around the globe," said Minaei. "This year, the 133rd edition was particularly meaningful given that the 2021 celebration as cancelled for the first time since the 1940s due to the pandemic."

Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams, embedded with six TSA officers trained in behavior detection, conducted operations to help ensure the safety and security of the traveling public at two highly trafficked public transportation hubs.

Assistant FSD-for Law Enforcement Julie Comeau seamlessly integrated with the Threat Assessments Response Team where local, state and federal law enforcement agencies monitored possible security threats at transportation venues. Throughout the event, Comeau communicated pertinent information to VIPR team members, behavior detection trained officers and canine handlers.

"As the FEC, it was my honor to leverage TSA's unique resources and skills, in collaboration with a tremendously dedicated and talented group of local, state and federal partners to ensure the safety, security and success of this important event," said Minaei proudly.

By Karen Robicheaux, TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs