Amid a maelstrom of media representatives and protesters, the Marshals Service played two vital roles in the June executions of federal prisoners Timothy McVeigh and Raul Garza.
Deputy marshals provided security along the perimeter of the execution chamber and Southern Indiana Marshal Frank Anderson gave his court- ordered consent to proceed - thus enabling the warden of the Federal Penitentiary at Terre Haute, Ind., to administer lethal injections to both prisoners in accordance with the law.
Two years ago it was decided that all federal executions would be held in Terre Haute, located 80 miles southwest of Indianapolis. A death row wing was constructed at that time, and there are currently 21 inmates who live there.
"This prison is home to the only death chamber and death row of inmates in the U.S. federal system," said Supervisory Deputy Richard Burton.
McVeigh was convicted of the worst act of domestic terrorism in American history - the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people and injured more than 500 others. The jury in his case deliberated for 23 hours before finding McVeigh guilty on all 11 counts of murder, conspiracy and using a weapon of mass destruction.
Garza was a convicted drug dealer who ordered and/or participated in three murders in the United States. He was also a suspect in five murders in Mexico.
When Timothy McVeigh was put to death June 11, it marked the first federal execution in 38 years. Garza was executed eight days later.
In the days prior to McVeigh's execution, there were 40 protesters outside of the prison supporting the death penalty and between 200 and 300 who opposed it. For Garza, those numbers were zero and 75, respectively.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the lead security agency, requested Service assistance in the event there were any civil disturbances.
"We supported BOP with security outside of the prison, where the protesters were allowed to gather," Burton said.
In addition to deputy marshals and BOP agents on the scene of both executions, two teams of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were present in case of any bomb threats, and several agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were ready to handle any hostage situations. Also, inspectors from the U.S. Postal Service provided X-ray equipment and support.
"Dozens and dozens of locals were present as well - including city police, county sheriffs, state troopers and the National Guard," Burton said.
For Marshal Anderson, having an official role in the executions and being so close to McVeigh and Garza as the final minutes of their mortality menacingly ticked away has been quite a challenge. But it was made feasible by his desire to uphold his work responsibilities.
"I've been in law enforcement for 40 years and I've always been mission driven," he said. "I don't allow my personal feelings to interfere with my duties.
"The world was looking at us [as officers] to perform what we have been ordered to do."
Anderson said this steadfastness began when he became a deputy sheriff at the age of 21.
"When you become a police officer, you are deciding that you could justifiably take a life in the performance of your duties. So, with both of these federal executions, I simply did what I was charged to do [by court order]."
Within the actual execution chamber, where few witnesses are allowed to go, the marshal's responsibility is threefold. First, he calls the Department of Justice Command Center to ask if there are any last-minute legal reasons that will prevent the planned execution.
If there are no stays, he officially turns to Terre Haute Warden Harley Lappin and instructs him that it is permissible to proceed. Finally, after the inmate is put to death, he must sign the documents attesting that the court order has been followed.
The marshal's obligations are performed in a rather stoic manner; yet, even in such an official capacity, human nature won't allow him to be unmoved in such circumstances.
"I've seen many deaths in my career, but to actually talk with these inmates [in the chamber] and to know that they are staring squarely at their deaths ... that was an experience," Anderson said. "It is something that is very sobering, there's no doubt about it.
"You've got to realize that you're dealing with human life. If [being on hand to administer federal executions] becomes routine, you need to get out of this."