In the aftermath of the explosions at the Boston Marathon today the Salt Lake City Police Department is clarifying their security plans for this weekend’s Salt Lake City Marathon.
The Salt Lake City Police Department says the Salt Lake City Marathon will proceed as planed this Saturday. Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank says they don’t anticipate a need to increase the security presence that has already been planned either.
“Right now it would be irresponsible to say we’re going to change things drastically." he says. "I mean, we need to evaluate and see. Information is coming in from Boston, we need to see why was that particular marathon targeted. Was it the city of Boston? Was it just a large-scale event? Or what took place.”
Burbank says their main goal in the coming week is to find an appropriate balance between safety and sport.
“Obviously, over the course of the week we will evaluate and determine what is the appropriate security measure," he says. "Because, as always, in any event that takes place it’s a balancing act between security and the event that takes place. It’s a sporting event not a security event.”
The marathon is set to start at 7 a.m. on Saturday and is accompanied by a variety of other events and festivities. It is also a certified and sanctioned USA Track & Field race and acts as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.