The headliners of the Vero Beach Air Show might be the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, but it takes a small army of dedicated law enforcement officers to safeguard the pilots, a half-billion dollars in military planes and equipment, and a record crowd of more than 80,000 onlookers this year.
Officers from eight different city, county, state and federal agencies work together for five days from the time the Blue Angels advance crew lands until the last plane departs, clocking nearly 2,000 man hours. From the Sheriff’s Office SWAT operators to Federal Aviation Administration, FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents to Indian River County Fire-Rescue and a U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Medevac helicopter crew, the entire security team works under one unified command during air show events that is headed up by Vero Beach Police Department Lt. Matt Harrelson.
Keeping the focus on the fun motivates Harrelson. “I really hope people had a good time, that they enjoyed being at an air show that has so much to offer. These little kids look up at the planes flying past and they’re just like, it’s the coolest thing ever! They’re just in awe,” Harrelson said…