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Aug 31, 2008 10:52 pm US/Eastern
More Than 3,500 Officers Providing RNC Security
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
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More than 3,500 police officers from Minnesota and around the country are in town for the Republican National Convention.
CBS
It will be hard to go just about anywhere in downtown St. Paul, Minn. or Minneapolis this week without running into someone in uniform.
More than 3,500 police officers from Minnesota and around the country are in town for the Republican National Convention. Many will be on hand for the protest marches in St. Paul, the biggest of which is scheduled for Monday, the first day of the convention.
Protest organizers say the scaled-back RNC won't reduce their impact. They predict at least 50,000 will take part in the Labor Day march that starts at the State Capitol and goes to the Xcel Center.
"The main effect of the scaling back of the convention tomorrow will be is that our voices will be front and center. It will be the main news that is happening," said protest organizer Jess Sundin.
Police officials say they are prepared to handle a march with as many as 100,000 participants.
To provide security for the RNC, St. Paul Police received a $50 million federal government grant. The money pays for everything from new equipment and extra personnel to cameras and training. Denver received the same amount for security for the DNC held there last week.
Hundreds of officers are assigned to mobile field forces, ready to respond to trouble spots. Officers have also spent many hours in role playing and getting refresher courses on the law.
None of the city or police officials want the RNC police actions to produce video images like the ones from other cities where marches and officers clashed. The most recent one was a May Day riot last year in Los Angeles which was broadcast all over the country.
On the eve of the RNC, St. Paul's top cop in charge of planning for the four-day event says he is confident his officers will project a positive image for the Twin Cities.
"We are excited. Our officers are looking forward to this," said Assistant St. Paul Police Chief Matt Bostrom. "By our actions you will know that indeed, not only are we ready, but we are setting a new standard."
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