A disaster in the making?

[canetoad]

The news that Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz is to be removed from his post at 12:01 on Inaguration day means that someone must immediately step into that position. This brings to mind another disastrous example of inexperienced command over a large event that resulted in 96 deaths.

The Hillsborough disaster happened in Sheffield, England in April 1989. The previous police commander, Chief Superintendent Brian L. Mole was experienced in large scale crowd control at football matches. He was transferred from his post in March 1989. The new commander was newly promoted Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield.

This left planning for the semi-final match to Duckenfield, who had never commanded a sell-out football match before, and who had "very little, if any" training or personal experience in how to do so.*

You probably know the end result. Gates that should have remained shut were opened, the crowd surged and 96 innocent supporters were crushed to death.

This is a worst case scenario and I hope that there are no incidents of this sort. I also hope whoever is handling risk management and public liability for the event is on the ball.


* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster

[johnp3907]

1. And it took what seemed like forever for the truth about Hillsborough to come out.

[braddy]

2. What would have changed in Sheffield if the commanders were switched as the game was ending?

The answer is nothing, everything was already in place, already arranged and planned for, activated, and being performed, the "interim" commander (who in this case will probably the current 2nd in command) would only come into play if something happens after 12:01 and a completely new situation is happening because of the current commander's mistakes.

[canetoad]

3. Not sure I understand your comment

After 12:01, if there is any unforseen happening, all the force/troops will be waiting for an instantaneous decision from someone who may not be as well-prepared to make that decision as the original commander.

I don't see how hypothesizing about switching commanders at the end of the Sheffield game is relevant.

[braddy]

4. The event security is all being planned, assigned, led, coordinated, and executed, by the current

commander, he isn't being replaced a month before the event.