Updated Jan 15, 2009 - 10:14 am
Seattle police to work Obama inauguration
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KIRO Radio
Security is going to be extremely tight in Washington D.C. next week for Barack Obama's inauguration, with two million people crammed into the Capitol Mall.
Forty-two Seattle police officers will travel to the other Washington to help protect the president-elect and the crowds. They'll be working at the balls, the swearing-in, and the three mile parade route.
"It's an awesome responsibility is the way we look at it. Protection of the president is a huge responsibility and the protection of the people who are coming to the inauguration to celebrate that part of our country. It's a huge responsibility for each and every officer who's going," said Captain Mike Sanford.
Sanford and 41 others from the Seattle Police Department fly out Sunday. He says half the department applied for the job, but they ended up choosing names out of a hat.
"It's exciting. I look forward to it. I look forward to the downtime as much as the up time because the downtime is when you get to pay attention to it," said Sanford.
The total price tag for security during the inauguration is expected to reach $75 million.
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