Police concerned about order to stop weapons screening at Obama rally By JACK DOUGLAS Jr.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
STAR-TELEGRAM/RODGER MALLISON
Barack Obama speaks Wednesday at a Democratic rally in Dallas' Reunion Arena. Police were told to stop screening people for weapons before the rally began. 'This is our moment,' Obama tells packed arena in Dallas
DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.
The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.
Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.
"Sure," said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."
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Poster Comment:
So the Secret Service shut down the screening? It's just dandy that this leaked out. Two things here, 1) Dead man walking, and 2) John McCain is drawing crowds of 50 people at the local VFW hall while Obama is drawing 17,000. If he lives until Nov. he seems to be the chosen one.