APD officers will work inauguration

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A group of specially trained Austin police officers will provide security during President Obama's Inauguration in Washington, D.C., next week.

Chief Art Acevedo confirmed Thursday that 41 officers from the APD Special Response Team will help with crowd management and crowd control during the Inauguration.

"We're excited. It's part of history," said Acevedo. "It's an honor for us to represent the great state of Texas and the city of Austin."

Acevedo said the department has been planning the event for months and will be able to cover the shifts of the officers who are traveling to the nation's capital.

"The most important piece for the taxpayers here locally is that the entire cost of the trip is funded and there will be zero cost for the people of Austin," said Acevedo, who will also be traveling to work the Inauguration. "For me, having been born in a Communist nation in Cuba ... I am always in awe of the transfer of power I am always in awe of how the most powerful country in the world can do this every four years and its something that makes me emotional."

Obama will take the oath of office for the second time on Jan. 21, which is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The president's first inauguration drew a record crowd of 1.8 million people. This year, officials expect to see 600 to 800-thousand  people. They say that's a record number for a second inauguration.

In 2005, the-President George W. Bush attracted about 400,000 people to his second inauguration.