Why So Much Security for Edgar's Funeral?
The family of former Gov. Jim Edgar leads his casket out of the Central Baptist Church in Springfield following his funeral Saturday. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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Just before former Gov. Jim Edgar’s funeral began Saturday morning at the Central Baptist Church in Springfield, an attendee fired off a text message.
“I’ve had an easier time getting in a federal courthouse,” the text message read.
Security was stepped up outside the church that sits across the street from the Governor’s Mansion. Attendees had to pass through metal detectors. Uniformed and plain-clothes State Police and Secretary of State Police were visible all around the building.
A command post with drone was set up south of the Governor’s Mansion.
It left many wondering if there had been specific threats made against the event or against Governor JB Pritzker. Officials insinuated last week there had been increased threats against Pritzker since the killing of Charlie Kirk earlier this month.
But Illinois State Police downplayed any concerns.
“Due to the high profile nature of the event and the attendees, this security detail was on a larger scale, but no specific threats were reported to ISP, a State Police spokesperson e-mailed Monday. “Due to the number of assets deployed, including the ISP Honor Guard and ISP Motors for the motorcade, ISP did deploy a command post from which to coordinate.”
