Thursday March 28th, 2024 1:35PM

Venue security commander recalls safety training for '96 Olympic games

By Ken Stanford Contributing Editor

When a bomb went off in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta 20 years ago tonight, the blast reverberated across the 50 miles to Gainesville and the rowing/canoe/kayak venue on Lake Lanier.  Not literally, of course, but figuratively because, as you might expect, it had an impact on the competition here and those who were working at the site.

One of those most affected was Ken Grogan, who, at the time, was employed by the Hall County Sheriff's Office and was serving as Law Enforcement Venue Security Commander at what is now the Lake Lanier Olympic Park.

"I spent two years prior to the Olympics working with ACOG (the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games) in Atlanta planning the Olympic Games for Hall County," Grogan recalls. "Sheriff Vass at the time asked me to handle the law-enforcement function from a local level."  

In addition to local law enforcement officers, security at the site involved state and federal agencies, as well.  

"We had a full complement of law-enforcement in and around the venue," Grogan said.  "The department of defense with the federal government supplied lots of equipment and manpower which helped make the venue security program a success. From a law enforcement security standpoint we had roads blocked, deputies and law enforcement officers all around the venue, divers in the water, snipers along the rowing course..."  The National Guard was also involved.  "This was a massive undertaking for Hall County."  

"Through traffic" on Clarks Bridge Road was prohibited during the competition.  Buses carrying spectators and members of the media were stopped just short of the venue for one last security check before being allowed to proceed.  

On the night of the bombing, Grogan remembers being "notified immediately.  All leaders within the security department...met at the Olympic venue site in the early morning hours."

Grogan says they went into a "a complete venue lockdown based on the Olympic command in Atlanta" and their direction from the FBI.   He says after it was determined the bombing appeared to be an isolated incident, security measures were lessened a bit but remained on "high alert" throughout the rest of the games.  Click here to read more about the bombing.

He says numerous sheriff's deputies and Gainesville police officers worked hard alongside officers from the other agencies to provide law enforcement coverage throughout Hall County during the compeition. Grogan was assisted in his job as chief of security by Lt. Jeff Wimpy from the Gainesville Police Department and Lt. Marty Nix, his second-in-command, who was with the Hall County Sheriff's Office. 

"All days off were canceled for the entire duration of the games.  No law enforcement officer was able to take a day off.  Everyone worked (essentially) three weeks straight without days off."  

In addition to athletes, Olympics officials, members of the media, and volunteers, those charged with security at the site also had to protect more than 16,000 spectators also visited the site each day during the competition.

"We in Hall County we're very proud of the operation," Grogan said.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 1996 Summer Olympics, Centennial Park bombing
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