Dallas figures into plans for political convention security
Ambush included in Secret Service’s worst-case scenarios
Less than a week before the opening of the Republican National Convention, the federal official overseeing security efforts said Tuesday that authorities are focusing on worst-case scenarios, including aspects of the deadly Dallas ambush that left five area police officers dead.
U.S. Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy said in an interview with USA TODAY that the yearlong preparations in advance of Cleveland and the Democratic convention in Philadelphia this month included planning for “similar elements” of last week’s assault in Texas. Thursday, heavily armed former Army reservist Micah Johnson fatally shot officers who were accompanying protesters rallying against recent killings of black men by police.
“You look at snipers, you look at mass attacks, you look at protest groups large and small. You look at any possibility that’s out there,” Clancy said.
The director said that authorities did not regard the thousands of protesters expected to descend here and in Philadelphia as a security threat and that no specific or credible threats to the conventions have been identified.
Though Clancy said the Cleveland convention presented “difficult challenges” because of the city’s densely packed downtown, the proximity of businesses and residential neighborhoods to the secure convention zone and the harsh rhetoric that has become a staple of the primary season, he was “confident in the planning.”
“I am always re-evaluating what we are doing,” Clancy said.
The director acknowledged heightened tension in the country in the aftermath of Dallas and demonstrations related to a succession of police killings, but he said violence can be avoided.
“There is a lot of passion,” the director said. “But I would say to these organizers of protest groups, if they see something or someone who doesn’t belong, say something.”
At a security briefing Tuesday, city and federal officials outlined a plan involving 73 government agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard.
Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said the city secured agreements with other law en- forcement agencies to recruit an additional force of outside officers, and those numbers surpassed initial estimates, despite concerns expressed by departments that Cleveland could not properly ensure outside forces against injury.
Williams declined to provide the specific number of outside officers who would work the convention, though the supplemental force was likely to be in the hundreds.
Stephen Anthony, the FBI’s chief in Cleveland, said hundreds of federal agents were being deployed to the city.
In addition to the flood of law enforcement officers, Williams said, a network of surveillance cameras will keep watch throughout the city.
“There will be security cameras, there will be observation platforms, some that you will never see,” Williams said. “We have planned, we have what-iffed, we have table-topped this to yesterday.”
Like Texas, Ohio allows for the open carrying of firearms, and Williams said authorities are confident they can manage such displays, despite the problems Dallas police encountered in their attempts to sort possible suspects from protesters who were carrying weapons when Johnson launched his attack.
At least 20 people involved in the Dallas protest were armed or carrying ammunition at the time.
Williams said Cleveland officers are “used to seeing ” such displays at gun rights rallies, including in the square where protesters and other activists will be provided a podium to speak throughout the convention.
“We’re not going to restrict anyone’s constitutional rights,” the chief said.
Williams acknowledged the large security operation, appealing for the public’s assistance and patience. “We like to say that it’s going to be business as usual in an unusual matter,” he said.
Cleveland NAACP President Michael Nelson, who has raised concerns about the city’s readiness, said the designated march and protest zones have “unnecessarily restricted” movement across the city. He suggested that presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has helped create “a powder keg.”
“You look at snipers, you look at mass attacks, you look at protest groups large and small. You look at any possibility that’s out there.” Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy