OT: A Sabres question google can't answer

[Gabrielor]

My wife asked me this a while back, and I've never found an answer:

When you walk into a Sabres game in the front entrance...the past several years, there's always a guy in full army combat gear with an M4/some big gun.

Is that an actual army guy or just a policeman with an interesting budget? Either way, that much equipment for street security at a Sabres games doesn't seem necessary (or maybe I'm ignorant and it is)?


It didn't really dawn on me how weird that is until she pointed it out.

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[Section 104]

I don’t know about the Sabres but in New York City’s Penn Station there are several similarly armed and dressed. Don’t know if they are army, national guard or NYPD.

 

[joshjull]

My wife asked me this a while back, and I've never found an answer:

When you walk into a Sabres game in the front entrance...the past several years, there's always a guy in full army combat gear with an M4/some big gun.

Is that an actual army guy or just a policeman with an interesting budget? Either way, that much equipment for street security at a Sabres games doesn't seem necessary (or maybe I'm ignorant and it is)?


It didn't really dawn on me how weird that is until she pointed it out.

I believe its Erie County swat teams and posssibly state police are involved as well. The Buffalo Police are around but more for traffic and regular crowd work. But I don’t believe any military.

 

[Gras]

My wife asked me this a while back, and I've never found an answer:

When you walk into a Sabres game in the front entrance...the past several years, there's always a guy in full army combat gear with an M4/some big gun.

Is that an actual army guy or just a policeman with an interesting budget? Either way, that much equipment for street security at a Sabres games doesn't seem necessary (or maybe I'm ignorant and it is)?


It didn't really dawn on me how weird that is until she pointed it out.

It would be illegal to use military for policing like this.

 

[old kummelweck]

This probably has something to do with the marketing agreement between the NHL and the DOD. They pay for NHL teams like the Sabres to promote the armed services. The ceramony at the start of Sabres games where they have a veteran come down and stand at attention during the anthems is part of this deal. Just a guess.

 

[Gabrielor]

I believe its Erie County swat teams and posssibly state police are involved as well. The Buffalo Police are around but more for traffic and regular crowd work. But I don’t believe any military.

Got this answer from someone else last night. Mystery solved!

 

[brian_griffin]

This probably has something to do with the marketing agreement between the NHL and the DOD. They pay for NHL teams like the Sabres to promote the armed services. The ceramony at the start of Sabres games where they have a veteran come down and stand at attention during the anthems is part of this deal. Just a guess.

if (big if) there was any such arrangement, I strongly believe the armed services branch(es) would be far more likely to have a recruiting presence than a public safety threat presence in full tactical gear.

 

[Der Jaeger]

My wife asked me this a while back, and I've never found an answer:

When you walk into a Sabres game in the front entrance...the past several years, there's always a guy in full army combat gear with an M4/some big gun.

Is that an actual army guy or just a policeman with an interesting budget? Either way, that much equipment for street security at a Sabres games doesn't seem necessary (or maybe I'm ignorant and it is)?


It didn't really dawn on me how weird that is until she pointed it out.

Department of Defense active duty and reserve personnel (US Code Title 10) personnel are restricted from conducting any duties whatsoever in the United States aside from training and recruiting. DoD active duty personnel may participate if:

- Provisions of the Insurrection Act are activated
- A State declares a State of Emergency and requests support, which is granted by the President. The request must be specific and have a defined end state. This is typically for support units under the authority of US Northern Command (operational control). The types of units are usually for water purification, search and rescue, medical support, veterinarian support, power generation, etc. Combat units may be used in instances where raw manpower is required and the State's National Guard is insufficient in either time to react or numbers (eg: Hurricane Katrina type event, catastrophic earthquake in Southern California).
- Where pre-existing agreements are in place (Eg: USAF C-130s support for wildfire firefighting).
- A request for support of a local event (Soldiers in a parade, Air Force flyover of a sporting event, etc).

National Guard (US Code Title 32) may be used within the State at the discretion of the State Governor, and according to State law.