At a press conference Tuesday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said that Boston residents "should expect a continued, heightened police presence" as local and federal investigators continue working to identify who was responsible for the marathon explosions that killed three and wounded 176. But for Boston residents living or working near Copley Square, what does that presence look like?
I walked through the 12-block zone for about a half-mile, starting at the Copley Center — about two blocks south of the explosion site — and ending at the Arlington and Boylston memorial — five blocks east of the explosion site.
During those 15 minutes, I saw...
1. At least 30 National Guard members.
2. Two Boston Police Department SWAT vehicles.
3. Three BPD cars.
4. Two BPD SUVs.
5. Two FBI Emergency Response Team agents.
6. One Boston Fire Department truck.
7. Two Massachusetts State Police trucks.
8. At least 12 unmarked police cars.
9. One huge trailer for the Massachusetts State Police Incident Command.
10. At least 24 BPD officers.
11.
12. One BPD Special Operations Unit van.
13. One BPD Special Operations Unit armored truck.
14. Six MSP cars.
15. And one officer guarding a medical tent.
