RNC Cops, What You Gonna Do?
Our sister site Minnesota Independent has been scrutinizing the security woes surrounding September’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul, and the more our reporters look, the grimmer things get.
Last week, MNIndy reported that local law enforcement agencies are balking at sending officers to the RNC, citing legal and financial concerns (said one cop, “We want to make sure we get paid”). Now reporter Paul Demko is discovering that some police organizations listed as part of the official security team, well, aren’t really on the team.
Yesterday, Demko reported that the Twin Cities’ Metro Gang Strike Force--listed as contributing 40 officers to convention security—in fact only has a total staff of 33, and the agency had not signed any agreement to work the RNC, as St. Paul police had reported.
Today, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is taking issue with the St. Paul cops’ claim that it will contribute 150 officers to the security cause. Turns out DOC only has seven licensed officers, all of whom will be on other assignments during the convention.
This may explain why St. Paul’s assistant chief of police is emailing his colleagues for help. “"There is still a perception that we need more officers,” he wrote.
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