Law enforcement officials in Cleveland have been expressing confidence in the city’s plan to protect delegates and visitors at the Republican National Convention, and while there haven’t been any major incidents as the expected 50,000 visitors began arriving this weekend, officials are prepared for tensions to rise in the coming days, especially in light of the deadly shootings of police officers in Louisiana on Sunday.
Former FBI Special Agent in Charge Steve Gomez said that at events like the convention in Cleveland, police are typically deployed to make a visible deterrence for would-be offenders. But now, in light of the shootings of police officers in Dallas, Milwaukee and most recently Baton Rouge, the police themselves are becoming targets.
“Police resources deployed will now be well briefed on potential ambush and diversion scenarios, as well having police personnel in place to watch for potential snipers and or active shooters that will target the actual security force,” said Gomez, who is now an ABC News contributor.
Gomez said that plain clothes officers and snipers could be used as additional fronts of a layered police presence.
In spite of the unrest in Louisiana, the days building up to the first national convention of the year have been relatively calm.
There was at least one arrest of a protester in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon — the day before the convention formally began — after the individual reportedly tried to take a trooper’s gas mask, according to the Cleveland police department.
Overall, Sunday’s demonstrations were largely peaceful with one multi-hour protest eventually dispersing without incident as police stood by. Many were seen with specially outfitted bikes that are being used both as transportation and makeshift barrier.
John Cohen, a former Department of Homeland Security acting under-secretary, who was involved in the planning of the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004, said that the team on the ground in Cleveland was likely already as prepared as it could be.
Cohen, who is now an ABC News contributor, said that he doesn’t “think they can do more,” but noted that the shooting in Baton Rouge as well as the truck attack in Nice, France which left more than 80 people dead last week “are going to place [law enforcement] and security personnel more on edge.”
“The shooting will only add to what is already an extraordinarily complicated security environment which is further complicated by the open carry issue,” Cohen said, referencing Ohio gun laws that allow people to legally carry their guns in public.
“Law enforcement and security personnel are dealing with an extremely high risk threat environment — while at the same time trying to allow people to lawfully protest. The next several days are going to be very intense for law enforcement in Cleveland,” Cohen said.
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