Nov 8, 2008 3:31 pm US/Eastern
How The Secret Service Protects Obama
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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President-elect Barack Obama speaks to the press on Nov. 7, 2008, in Chicago.
Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
Life has certainly changed for Barack Obama and his family since he won the presidential election on Tuesday.
On Friday, Obama was protected by heavily armed Secret Service agents in Chicago.
Protecting the president is the top priority of the agents.
WBZ's Paul Burton spoke to a security expert who explains what's involved in keeping the president from harm
"The threats are constant from all different ways," said Richard Avery, the New England region president of securities.
Avery works for the global protection agency that provides security on all levels. He said a shield of glass surrounding Obama during his acceptance speech was necessary given the huge crowds and location.
"To give him that ring of protection while he was on stage," Avery said. "The event was at night, the lights were down and there was one person under the lights. What you find with that level of protection was to cut off the angles of different threats that might be received from around there."
Now wherever president-elect Obama and his family go they will have the highest level of protection.
"I don't think the standard of protection will change the types of investigations they may need to do prior to him arriving at a city or leaving a city that may be altered," Avery said.
He says the Secret Service receives hundreds of threats a day and they take them all seriously.
"It's unfortunate in today's society you do have to take that type of precaution but it's absolutely necessary," Avery said.
When Obama comes to Boston, the Secret Service branch will already be in place, and they are always on a need to know basis.
The Secret Service has
code names for the soon-to-be first family. President-elect Obama is known as "Renegade," first lady Michelle Obama is called "Renaissance," and daughters Malia and Sasha are "Radiance" and "Rose Bud."
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