Cites 9/11 anniversary as reason D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier on Thursday declared a police emergency and placed officers on 12-hour work shifts because of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Lanier said she ordered the schedule change at the last minute as a way to keep her officers on alert and help thwart any possible attacks. Law enforcement have been preparing for the events for weeks and there are no specific threats, Lanier said.
“This is just part of our plan. Maintaining a certain sense of unpredictably is essential to the success of any security plan,” Lanier told The Washington Examiner.
Police presence will be increased around the nation’s capital, which kicks off a slate of events Friday with a speech by President Obama and concert at the Kennedy Center.
The officers were issued the order around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Kris Baumann, head of the police union, said he believes Lanier declared the emergency because of a scheduling screw-up. The declaration suspends the union contract and gives Lanier the power to quickly shift the schedules of the department’s roughly 3,800 officers.
“When you have an event as important as Sept. 11,” Baumann, said, “the idea to use it as an effort to not pay overtime is inexcusable.”
According to police sources, the senior brass have been huddled in meetings Thursday while the rank-and-file await their orders.
“We’ve been told to be ready, but they haven’t told us what to be ready for,” one officer said.
Staff Writer Liz Farmer contributed to this report.
