It's a chance to go to our nation's capital and witness history, but the trip in January will not be a vacation for a dozen Omaha police officers helping provide security for the presidential inauguration.
Omaha Police Capt. Scott Gray will lead the group of 12 officers to Washington, D.C for the event that only happens every four years. They will be sworn in as deputy U.S. Marshals for the time they are there.
This won't be the first inauguration that Gray and fellow officers have been a part of. Omaha police first got the invitation to help in January 2005 when President George W. Bush was sworn in for the second time. Then they went back again to help in 2009 when President Obama took his oath of office.
"It really is amazing how put together this event is," says Gray. "I mean it's a huge, huge special event when you compare it to events that we have here."
Gray says they won't know their specific assignment until they get there, but will most likely provide crowd control along the parade route and at other inaugural events.
"In 2009, President Obama stopped his limo right by us and got out and started walking from that point. So it was neat to be that close to a newly sworn-in president," said Gray.
It's usually a long, cold day working outside, but Gray says it's worth it to be a part of history. "After the last one I said I would never do it again, but once you're given the opportunity to go again, the opportunity to see history again is hard to pass up."
Gray says all the officers that will go with him have experience dealing with large crowds and protestors.
