LAW ENFORCEMENT READIES FOR FUNERAL

Officers from five different police agencies and two military services have been coordinating the security effort that will surround the upcoming funeral services for U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson.

Capt. Steve Strong, of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said officers from the U.S. Capitol Police Dignitary Protection Division, the House Sargent at Arms, the Cape Girardeau police, the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force will be working together over the next two days to provide a secure environment for those who will attend Emerson's funeral at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church.

"Realistically," Strong said, "traffic will be the biggest problem. We're looking at the worst-case scenario in which someone would want to attack a member of Congress. But traffic problems are the most common problem when you have a large operation like this."

The Air Force probably will be chiefly involved in the transportation of the dignitaries from Washington and with security at the airport. The Army will be on hand with dogs to sweep the area for explosive devices. Members of the Capitol police will be moving through the crowd to monitor things without drawing attention to themselves.

Additionally, uniformed officers will be on hand for the double responsibility of providing a visual deterrent and clearing traffic. The highway patrol will be responsible for the funeral precession along Interstate 55 to Hillsboro Cemetery.

Strong said no area will be restricted from pedestrian movement, but that the public will be deterred from standing in areas between the vehicles and First Presbyterian Church to allow the funeral guests free passage.

"You can walk up and down," Strong said, "but you won't be able to park yourself by the vehicles."

Visitation from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Old St. Vincent's Church will be open to the public but officers will be inside the church.

Security also has been coordinated with St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital to provide emergency care if needed.

Cape Girardeau police probably will dedicate at least eight officers to security. Strong doesn't know the total number of officers from every department that will be working the area, but said the number may total as many as 20 depending on who attends the services.

It has been reported that House Speaker Newt Gingrich will attend, along with Gov. Mel Carnahan, White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and the entire Missouri congressional delegation.

Emerson's pallbearers will be Jim Sharp, Keith Kirk, Lloyd Smith, Bill Coffield, Al Sikes, Leonard Killgore, Gary Rust and Jim Mauze.

Officiating at the funeral will be Dr. E.C. Brasington and the Rev. Charles Dreyer. Cardinal Bernard Law of the Boston Archdiocese will not attend the service, as formerly reported, due to a scheduling conflict.