When the Olympic Games officially get underway in Atlanta this week, some 30,000 law-enforcement personnel from federal, state and local agencies--as well as thousands of soldiers and private security guards--will be on hand to provide security for the largest peaceful gathering of nations in history. And two of Penn's finest will be part of this select security group.

Sgt. Thomas Rambo and Officer Michael Sandt, both veteran Penn police officers, are offering their skills to the Security Team Program (STP), a first-time venture by the Olympic Games that uses police officers from around the world as an all-volunteer security team. "I was interested in this program because I saw it as an opportunity for me to learn new things about security that I can bring back to my work at Penn," Rambo said.

Security is a top priority for organizers of the Games. With as many as 200 countries represented, more than 16,500 athletes, coaches and team officials expected to participate, and some 2 million visitors expected over the 17-day event, an impressive array of security measures are required to maintain order.

STP volunteers will enhance security by lending their expertise to the 1996 Olympic Security Force. "By using the skills of law enforcement officers who are already trained in security techniques, cultural awareness, community affairs and how to relate with people on a daily basis, STP candidates will bring supervisory and technical abilities never before experienced on a volunteer level to the Olympic Games," said Jerry Cogan, security team manager for the Games.

STP was the brainchild of Bill Rathburn, director of security for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG), who directed the Los Angeles Police Department's security planning for the 1984 Olympic Games. Rathburn saw the team as a way to tap the skills of police officers who are already extensively trained in security techniques--techniques that are needed for the Olympic Games.

"This is security on a grand scale," Rambo said. "But the issues are similar to ones that we deal with here at Penn, such as access control, managing events and the like. I think this will be a valuable learning experience, and I think we will make a contribution."

Rambo has been with the Penn police department since 1986. He is currently a sergeant in the patrol division, and handles special events and investigations. He first learned about STP through an advertisement in a professional journal. He applied to the program right away. As it turns out, he had plenty of company--more than 6,000 officers from around the world applied for the approximately 1,000 slots.

Sandt, a five-year veteran of the Penn police force, is a patrol officer and a member of the bike patrol. He viewed STP as a way to contribute his skills and meet people from different countries.

"We have people from all over the world at Penn; it's like a microcosm," he said. "At the Olympics, it will be on a larger scale, and I'm looking forward to meeting new people. We will also have the opportunity to meet police officers from other countries."

Rambo said the experience he and Sandt have gained at Penn made them ideal candidates for this program: "They want people who work in law enforcement and can handle incidents without force. People who can settle disputes with words. They were also looking for people with experience working in a diverse environment. "

Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon noted that it was a "great honor for the University and the Penn police department to have two of our officers selected from an international competition with thousands of applicants."

"It is a recognition of the quality of our officers," he added. "I speak for the whole Division of Public Safety when I say how proud we are of their achievement."

Rambo and Sandt will be assigned primarily to Stone Mountain, Ga., just outside of Atlanta, which is where the cycling and archery competitions will take place, but it's likely that they will also cover the opening ceremonies. The two will serve as supervisors to the private security guards who are part of the 1996 Olympic Security Force, and will be involved with a variety of issues, such as access and crowd control, demonstrations, and heat problems.

The two officers are receiving free housing for their efforts: They are staying at the University of Georgia in Athens for their two-week tour, which runs from July 15 to July 31. However, volunteering at the Olympics doesn't necessarily guarantee that Rambo and Sandt will be able to view their favorite events. In order to do so, they have to purchase tickets, if they are available, during their time off. Still, Sandt is hopeful that he will be able to see some of the competitions.

"We work eight-hour shifts, but can work as many extra hours as we want," he said. "I expect I'll be able to take a peek at the events from time to time."

Return to Compass Features for July 16, 1996