Honored to serve and celebrate democracy, Captain Kathleen Vacca and Officer Ryan Welch of New College’s Campus Police Department (CPD) provided security detail during the 59th United States presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20.
It was a cold, windy, overcast day—accompanied by light snow flurries—when 46th President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in at the Capitol Building. Vacca and Welch were assigned to work as special deputies.
“As a result of the threat level in the nation’s capital and the ongoing development of intelligence, the Presidential Inauguration Task Force sought assistance from law enforcement agencies around the country,” Vacca explained. “The New College CPD was one of only four colleges/universities to be invited [by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homeland Security Bureau in Washington, D.C.] We worked in collaboration with the local lead law enforcement agency, the Bradenton Police Department (BPD), under the direction of the United States Secret Service, and in conjunction with the United States National Guard.”
The event marked the second time in the history of New College that the institution’s officers were invited to participate in an inauguration (the last time was in 2017). And New College’s CPD was the only police department among State University System of Florida schools to attend this year.
Welch and Vacca flew to Baltimore, Maryland, for a three-day trip, arriving on Monday morning with the local contingent to be shuttled by bus to the D.C. area. They served alongside members of the BPD, the Holmes Beach Police Department, the Bradenton Beach Police Department, the Palmetto Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Their detail was security for the presidential motorcade on the inner perimeter along Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the National Archives Museum (which was within eyesight of the Capitol Building). They were on post beginning at 3:45 a.m. and were not released until the late afternoon.
“There was a great deal of preparation and documentation required, beginning in early 2020, as planning got underway,” Vacca said. “The background security clearance and verification of credentials at the federal level was high. Soon after arrival, we were sworn in by the United States Marshals Service as special deputies.”
It was the first time Vacca and Welch had attended an inauguration ceremony, and the day was ultimately “peaceful and without incident,” they said.
“I was extremely honored to represent New College and the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus as a police officer providing security for democracy. As a proud member of the U.S. military, and now as a police officer, I find pride and purpose in what I do and what I have done,” Welch said. “My focus as a police officer is the preservation and protection of life, liberty and property. To be asked to contribute to this historic occasion was an honor.”
Vacca felt similarly.
“Being selected for and using our skills and training to ensure success for the mission—a peaceful transition of presidential power—was a great honor. Failure was not an option,” Vacca said. “We are proud that our small role allowed people around the world to celebrate democracy. I’m pleased to have represented New College at such a ceremony of national importance.”
Abby Weingarten is the senior editor in the Office of Communications & Marketing.