COLUMBUS, Ohio — There is an increased law enforcement presence at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Security was going to be tight before the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, and now it has intensified.
About 40 officers from the Columbus Division of Police left Saturday morning for Milwaukee to add a bigger police presence for the RNC. This was all planned before Saturday's shooting.
“It's a tragic event. Anytime the democratic process is interrupted, obviously that is a major concern and there's innocent folks who are involved in that,” said Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 9 Vice President Pete Casuccio.
With big events come extra layers of security and law enforcement.
While investigators are trying to figure out how a gunman was able to get close enough to take a shot at Trump, others are working on security to make sure nothing happens this week at the RNC.
“As a police officer, that's our biggest priority is making sure everyone is safe. When someone doesn't go home at the end of the day, that's hurts all of us,” Casuccio said.
Casuccio said the team consists of front-line officers, dialogue officers and officers who are bike-trained.
“In incidents like that when you have a large-scale operation, it will be an incident commander who will be assigned and they will retain control of the event until it is secured,” Casuccio said.
Columbus police have traveled across the country to assist with other big events and incidents like natural disasters, the RNC when it was in Cleveland and inaugurations.
“I have the utmost confidence in all the officers who the lodge represents. We are always hyper-vigilant and we are very well trained and we are very fortunate in central Ohio,” Casuccio said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has also sent about 40 troopers to Milwaukee to help with security as well.
The cost is covered through a grant program funded through the federal government's Bureau of Justice Assistance.