After beginning their three-way joint command system on Monday, Sept. 26, the Longwood University Police Department (LUPD), Farmville Police Department and Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office are reaching the final stretch of their nearly two-year security preparation process for the Oct. 4 vice presidential debate.
Farmville Police Department acting chief Andy Ellington said as command leaders, LUPD Chief Robert Beach and Prince Edward County Sheriff Wesley Reed will work with him in a command post together at predetermined “critical times” leading up to and during the debate, making joint decisions.
In a previous interview, Beach said the three local law enforcement agencies will be joined by nearly 1,700 public safety officials from across the country, including officers from the Virginia State Police, other universities’ campus police departments and the U.S. Secret Service.
Ellington said, “To see so many different agencies from law enforcement to the emergency services personnel that I’ve been working with for 12 months, I’d say it’s unbelievable how everybody’s come together, worked so closely together and just gel together.”
As the debate approaches, Ellington said every officer in his 26-man agency will work every day, starting Friday, Sept. 30 through the debate without days off. Of the 1,700 officials coming to town, he said over 700 are dedicated specifically to debate security.
Beach said the three agencies’ preparations partially focused on maintaining the same day-to-day protection for the Town of Farmville outside of the needs for the debate.
In order to continue to keep residents and local business owners safe, Ellington said the Farmville agency also doubled their staff on Friday, Sept. 30, increasing foot patrols on Main Street and in residential areas.
“We foresee a lot of parking issues, so we’ll be on top of that, making sure that life goes on as normal for businesses and residences around the town,” said Ellington.
Both 2012 vice presidential debate host Centre College and 2008 vice presidential debate host Washington University-St. Louis cited parking and traffic pattern disruptions in the four days leading up to the debate.
Ellington said the agencies anticipate one road closure at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4 along South Main Street from its intersection Putney St. to Griffin Blvd. He also said large vans and buses will be restricted from accessing South Main Street on Tuesday from 7 a.m. until after the debate because it will be made a single-lane road. Four-door passenger vehicles will be allowed.
In addition to the already erected metal perimeter fence, Ellington said short-term police barriers may be used depending on traffic flow.
“If we have an accident or something, we’ve got plans in place to re-route traffic around,” said Ellington.
The Rotunda reached out to Reed for comment, but he denied until after the debate.
In his 29 years in law enforcement, the acting Farmville police chief said the vice presidential debate was the largest event he’s experienced.
“It’s a historical time for the community, and it’s going to put us on the map,” said Ellington. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
An estimate for debate security costs haven't been released yet. Beach said approximately 75 percent of the 1,700 incoming officials are working voluntarily.
According to an article by The Lexington Herald-Leader in 2012, the city of Danville, Ky. expected to spend $50,000 to $100,000 on police security and improvements to roads and landscaping around Centre College for the vice presidential debate four years ago.
From within Farmville, Ellington said the town council and manager have been “very supportive” and made sure the police had everything they needed.
He said, “Everybody’s gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that this thing goes off safely and that we can protect our community.”
Longwood students with a valid fall 2016 parking permit are allowed to use five main campus parking lots - Putney St., Vernon St.. Cox, Stubbs, Vine St. - and three parking lots associated with Longwood-managed apartments, the Longwood Landings South lot, Lancer Park lots near the townhouses and the Longwood Village lots.
