Police in Cleveland are ready for the RNC protesters — and they’ve got jail space too
Whether you’re a Republican National Convention delegate or a party VIP, a demonstrator or a journalist, the city of Cleveland is ready for you to have a safe and peaceful visit.
So, go ahead and bring your funny hats and big signs. If you want to march for a cause, the city of Cleveland will accommodate you. If you want to preach your political points of view, you’re welcome to. Heck, if you’d like — and have an open-carry permit — you can even carry your handgun or rifle. Ohio is an open-carry state, and gun-toting is a permissible activity.
But keep this in mind: If you step out of line, there will be local, state and federal police officers — thousands of them, including officers from across the nation — ready to keep you in check. And, if necessary, Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams says there is adequate jail space in his city.
“We want people to stay within the law and make sure they stay peaceful,” Williams said. “But if you get outside the law, and definitely if you’re not peaceful, then it’s not going to be good for anybody.”
Williams, as well as representatives of the Secret Service, city administration and the RNC organizing committee, on Wednesday gave a last security briefing before the convention begins on July 18.
“We are prepared,” said Ronald Rowe Jr. of the Secret Service. “We are ready to welcome the world to Cleveland.”
Everyone expressed optimism and confidence in the security plan that’s been in the works for the past couple of years — and amended as recently as this week to take into account last week’s sniper attack that left five Dallas police officers dead at a demonstration against police violence.
Officials won’t say specifically what’s been changed after Dallas, but Williams did say that police officer safety has been given extra consideration. “Dallas was a wakeup call,” he noted.
Demonstrators like Citizens for Trump organizer Tim Selaty Sr. of Texas and Stand Together Against Trump organizer Bryan Hambley of Cleveland will be among the crowds in Cleveland next week. Politically, Selaty and Hambley are worlds apart, but they share a common concern about the Republican National Convention: security.
Thousands of emotionally charged people will pour into downtown Cleveland next week, and Selaty and Hambley said during interviews with Yahoo News that they have big worries that the convention organizers have not done enough to separate the groups with opposing positions on presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.
“It’s a recipe for disaster the way they are handling it right now,” Selaty said.
While Hambley said he hoped the city would have created buffer zones between opposing groups and segregated where they could assemble, city officials said that was not possible.
Instead, local officials have regulated where and when political groups can march. There is also a podium in Public Square, the city’s central gathering spot two blocks from the convention hall at Quicken Loans Arena. People can sign up for time at the microphone to share their opinions — and whoever wants to listen, can.
And, yes, violence is a real possibility, Williams said on Wednesday. Demonstrators will be given some leeway to express themselves.
“I can’t predict what’s going to happen, so we plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Williams said.
The security plan is based on prior conventions as well as recent Trump rallies, which occasionally have turned violent. It also takes into account recent Black Lives Matter protests surrounding police-involved shootings across the nation.
Police forces will be monitoring threats from cyberspace as well as terror threats by air, land or Lake Erie. Some 4,000-plus officers and agents from national, state and local law enforcement agencies will be on patrol. Visitors can expect uniformed — and plainclothes — officers on the streets.
“We’ve had lots of practice,” said Nicole Mainor, assistant special agent in charge for the Secret Service. “We’ve been working with all the partners to ensure every aspect of every event has been covered.”
Although the security forces and organizers seem optimistic that people will behave themselves and are confident with the security plan, at least one city consultant has waved a caution flag over the convention.
AON Risk Services, Cleveland’s insurance adviser, recommended that the city up its liability insurance coverage to $50 million from $10 million, which is what the city initially purchased. That insurance covers claims made against law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions and damage to private property, whereas the city of Cleveland, which is self-insured, is responsible for any claims against its officers and damage to city property.
Cleveland took the consultant’s suggestion as a matter of “prudence,” said city spokesman Dan Williams.
The city also has reinforced its armory with all sorts of protective gear: 2,000 riot-gear suits, tactical batons, helmets, bulletproof vests for firefighters, some 4 miles of barricade fence and 300 police bicycles, according to a report from Yahoo News’ Jason Sickles.
Who decides when that equipment gets put to use? Williams points to his commanders. “Our commanders out there in the field, they’re seasoned, they’ve been through this before, they know what to do if we get to a point where we have violence. … There’s no reason for it unless all hell breaks loose.”
The city is also regulating what people — regardless of whether they’re protesters, tourists or local office employees — can and cannot bring downtown during the four days of the RNC. Banned items include umbrellas with metal tips, drones, bike locks, steel chains and gas masks.
Guns, despite reservations by local authorities, are fine, as long the carriers have permits as required by state law. The Secret Service, however, prohibits guns from being brought into the convention hall and the area immediately outside the Quicken Loans Arena plaza that has been designated a secure zone.
Meanwhile, in preparation for violence during the convention, several media outlets that are sending reporters and editors to Cleveland have reportedly given their staffs training on what to do should riots break out. Cleveland police officials also addressed the safety of journalists on Wednesday, suggesting they carry proper credentials and cooperate with police officers.
“If you want to put on something bright and neon, that’s your fashion choice,” said Williams. “Our main thing is that you have something that you can show that you are part of the media.”
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