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American Morning
Discussion With WEF Security Firm CEO
Aired January 31, 2002 - 08:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: And joining us now to talk about the security in place for this global gathering is the man you just met on his bike, John Timoney, a former Philadelphia police commissioner, and currently CEO of the Bo Dietl & Associates Security firm. Good to see you in person for a change.
JOHN TIMONEY, CEO, BO DIETL & ASSOC. SECURITY: Good morning, Paula. Absolutely, there you go.
ZAHN: So you left the Philly police department?
TIMONEY: About three weeks ago. You had it all wrong. You were saying Washington.
ZAHN: I know, we were convinced that Gov. Ridge was going to bring you on board to work on the homeland security front.
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: Now I think you pretty much made it clear in this piece that you see in this interview that you were very concerned about what could transpire here. What are you most worried about?
TIMONEY: Well, I'm not worried about The Waldorf, I was over there yesterday. It really is locked down, there's plenty of security, plenty of (UNINTELLIGIBLE), secret service.
ZAHN: Yes, we've got a lot a pictures that talk about that.
TIMONEY: Yes. But, as you move away from The Waldorf, there's going to be a whole host of off-site venues, receptions, lunches, breakfasts. And those provide opportunity for protesters.
ZAHN: To give the audience idea of the kind of people that are coming here...
TIMONEY: Yes.
ZAHN: ... who is the most vulnerable? You're talking about heads of states, you're talking about members of the diplomatic core.
TIMONEY: Yes. By in large, I think they'll be OK, because most of those have protection provided by either the New York City Police Department or the state department. And by in large, they'll be OK. They're protected packages. But people who will be vulnerable are the -- the businessmen, women that are attending, academic types.
Because in Philadelphia, likewise Seattle, they'll also strike out at symbols of capitalism as well -- they can be financial institutions or the Gap -- there's a demonstration today at the Gap at 54th Street, McDonald's. Things that symbolize corporate America -- Starbucks. And then anybody that's really in a three-piece suit -- or, for example, in Philadelphia during the convention, we had quiet a few -- you know, the black limousine service cars...
ZAHN: Sure.
TIMONEY: ... packed and stepped on and the windshields smashed in. And so anything that would -- that would indicate wealth or status can be an object of violent protesters. By the way, let's be fair, the vast majority of protesters that will show up will be non- violent. The problem is there'll be a few hundred so-called anarchists whose past history indicates they'll use the peaceful protesters as cover.
ZAHN: All right. Are you talking about protest potentially on a scale of what we witnessed in Seattle and Genoa?
TIMONEY: It's hard to tell, because there's a lot of mixed messages coming in. There are some people -- Ruckus, for example, supposedly is taking a pass to this, post 9/11. They don't want to confront the so-called heroes of 9/11. And so, actually, we don't know. We'll have to wait and see.
ZAHN: So let's talk a little bit about what you plan to do over the next couple of days.
TIMONEY: Yes.
ZAHN: Are you assigned to a particular head of state or are you overseeing fraud security?
TIMONEY: No, we're providing coverage -- both personal coverage, bodyguard coverage -- for certain CEOs. And then covering the security -- we're all ex NYPD police officers covering security at a variety of off-site locations, venues, receptions, lunches. And so we'll have our hands filled also.
ZAHN: I know this was supposed to be a great gift to the United States and to New York City...
TIMONEY: Yes.
ZAHN: ... to host this forum. And yet in one of the papers this morning they said one of the primary motivations for Davos not to do this was because the security costs are so darn high. What are we talking about in terms of what it's going to cost to pull this off? (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
TIMONEY: Yes. You know, I think any economic gain will be offset by police overtime costs. However, if it comes off without a hitch -- and I fully expect it -- the New York City Police Department and Chief Hale and Ray Kelly are fully prepared. If it comes off without a hitch, it sends a message out internationally that it's OK to come into New York City, hold your conferences, have a good time, enjoy the restaurants, enjoy the culture. And so I'm expecting that to be the result.
ZAHN: I hope you are right. Can I still call you Commissioner Timoney?
TIMONEY: Oh, I insist upon it. I demand it.
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: After so many years, I can't get used to your being in the private sector.
TIMONEY: There you go, Paula.
ZAHN: Thank you very much for dropping by our studio.
TIMONEY: Thank you very much.
ZAHN: And the best of luck to you over the next several days.
TIMONEY: Thank you. I appreciate it.
ZAHN: Even beyond that job -- the next job, too.
TIMONEY: There you go.
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