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LAS VEGAS — Thousands of people are heading to Las Vegas to watch the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl V. As a result, public safety in the city is at an all-time high, and Utah's specialized teams are on hand to respond to any biological or chemical threats.
The team is the Utah National Guard's 85th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civilian Support Team. Lt. Col. Rob Dent is the team's commander.
“There's a lot of moving parts on our side, a lot of traffic, a lot of crowds, so it might be a challenge, but we're going to get through it,” Dent told KSL-TV.
Dent said team members have undergone 650 hours of training and are using high-tech equipment to detect anything unusual.
“Any toxic substance that threatens public safety will be released. It could be a chemical, a biological agent, a radioactive substance,” he said.
The team arrived a week before the game. They will clean all venues before the public is allowed to enter. Once the venue opens, the team will be there ready to attack.
Dent called it “a great privilege. It's not a responsibility we take lightly. We are extremely vigilant and just grateful to be able to ensure public safety and serve the residents of Nevada.” .
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Dan Rascon