Ottawa Police plan to intensify security measures around the city – especially within Centretown – when U.S. president Barack Obama arrives in Ottawa on Feb. 19 for his first foreign visit since moving into the White House in January.
Supt. Charles Bordeleau said city police officers will assist the lead security agency, the RCMP, mainly by managing crowds and controlling traffic. He said his officers will oversee security along the presidential motorcade route and specific sites where Obama is expected to appear, such as Parliament Hill and the airport.
Bordeleau noted that residents will likely lose access to certain roads during the presidential visit, but that until Obama’s itinerary is firmed up and made public, he can’t say which routes will be closed.
"We'll want to make sure, obviously, that it's a safe visit for everyone involved," said Bordeleau, “including the president's entourage, the officers on patrol during the visit and members of the community at large – whether they be onlookers, protesters – anyone who will be attending the visit."
A police statement noted that “last minute disruptions with little or no notice are also possible on the day of the visit” and that “large crowds are expected to gather to catch a glimpse of the new and clearly popular President Obama.”
The statement added: “Although mainly enthusiastic public interest in this historic event is expected, police will respect the democratic right to demonstrate as well as the public assembly right as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
Officers patrolling the streets will have all of their regular equipment, said Bordeleau, including tasers.
He said while police must prepare for all possible occurrences, he suspects residents of the capital – quite familiar with visits by foreign dignitaries – will notice little out of the ordinary.
"We'll have officer presence to make sure traffic flow and pedestrian traffic are safe for everybody," he said. "This is nothing unusual for any event in the city."
He said what's most important is the individuals and agencies involved in ensuring a secure visit understand their roles and responsibilities. As the event draws closer, police will conduct further training and more details will be released regarding road closures.