CLEVELAND — Around 73 agencies and 1,500 law enforcement officers will work in tandem during next week’s Republican National Convention to prevent terrorism and any other violent acts that may erupt during protests and rallies.
Cleveland’s chief of police Calvin Williams said the department, and all other law enforcement agencies involved, is prepared to make the RNC safe for everyone.
“It will business as usual in an unusual manner,” Williams said during a Multi-Agency Communications Center press conference Tuesday morning. “We want people to come and to be able to leave safely.”
United States Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy chimed in.
“This will be our 53rd special security event. We’ve worked tirelessly with our partners,” Clancy read from a prepared statement.
But Mansfield Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department will not be part of the concerted safety effort.
Up until Tuesday, MPD had planned to send two officers to help with Cleveland’s Motorcycle Unit.
“They were trained and certified by motorcycle instructors (in Cleveland). They also went to a Harley-Davidson National Training, so now they can train other officers locally. They were asked by the Cleveland Police Department. It was an honor for being invited,” Mansfield police chief Ken Coontz said.
However, plans changed when “something came up” Tuesday morning.
“We were unable to fulfill an obligation that they want. Hopefully they can go to the next one,” Coontz said.
Coontz said the decision was made “collectively” to not attend Cleveland’s RNC. He declined to comment on why plans changed.
Phone calls and emails to the Cleveland Police Department’s traffic commissioner were not immediately returned seeking comment for this story.
Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon said the department was invited to send deputies up to Cleveland last summer but that deputies decided not to attend.
“We tend to work overtime here, so I don’t think there is any other specific reason. And it’s kind of a far drive,” Sheldon said. He added there have been no second employment forms filled out at the department — and that the RNC will be safe without the department’s help.
“I think it’s going to be very safe. At least I hope it’s very safe,” he said.
FBI plans for protests and lone wolf attacks
The RNC is expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters from around the nation, including a white supremacist group.
In addition to the 1,500 law enforcement officers expected to work security details during the convention, the FBI will send hundreds of representatives to “fuse intelligence.” Their main concern: lone wolf terrorist attacks.
“We don’t have any credible threats right now but that doesn’t mean there’s a lot that keeps us preoccupied,” Clancy, of the FBI said Tuesday. “The lone wolf attacks are on all our minds. But we’re going to use every bit of resource available to share information.”
Clancy said various intelligence operation centers will be located across the state to help prevent from terroristic threats. He declined to comment on how many and their specific locations.
“We have more tools in our handbag (since 2012’s conventions),” Clancy said, referring to updated technology used to thwart terroristic threats and attacks. “We just want folks to be safe.”
