Like so many high-profile events and locations, security for the Boston Marathon is elevated compared to its pre-9/11 levels, Judge said. This year was no different; the police department deployed more officers to the marathon this year than in any other year, according to Commissioner Ed Davis.
Though there's scant information on how authorities train for potential crises, professional security consultants said there must be a playbook for responding to a bombing.
"They plan for a bomb to go off at the Boston Marathon. If they haven't, then they're incredibly lax," said Howard Levinson, a security consultant for corporate clients and special events who frequently coordinates with local authorities. "That probably saved a lot of lives. But unless you're taking such extreme measures, you can't prevent this from happening.