WASHINGTON — Construction is underway at Fiserv Forum, as Milwaukee prepares to host the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July. The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) has been working with the Secret Service, FBI and other agencies for more than a year to make sure the convention is safe.
“There is no perfect plan,” said MPD chief Jeffrey Norman. “But what is and can be impactful, that when we do have disruptions in our plans or things come up that may be a challenge, we have each other on speed dial, we know each other, and there is a level of collaboration, and I even want to say trust, but also professionalism, that we're going to work through this. I cannot guarantee that nothing will happen. That's not something that any leader should ever say. But what I will say is that we have great minds working on these particular challenges.”
Norman said the department is no stranger to large events, citing the parade after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship and the annual Summerfest music festival, which is now underway.
“Now, are there more eyes on our community? Absolutely, but the work that we do doesn't change, no matter what event is going on in our community,” Norman said.
Spectrum News also asked Norman about former President Donald Trump allegedly calling Milwaukee a horrible city in a meeting with Republicans on Capitol Hill. Trump subsequently denied the allegation. Trump will accept the GOP’s nomination for president at the Convention.
“I love my city. Born and raised, still live here, my family’s here,” Norman said. “I don't know what anybody else’s experience or belief is, but I know what I know, and I know this is a great city.”
Norman said he could not share the exact details of how his police force will operate during the convention, but one national security expert said the department will need to juggle multiple responsibilities.
“From the more prosaic level of ensuring flow of vehicles, traffic, including potentially emergency vehicles, [and] access to the event by the credentialed people--the speakers, political officials, others in attendance--to, at the other end of the spectrum, potentially insuring against that there's no violence that’s directed at anyone, including those at the event,” said Jonathan Hafetz, a professor at Seton Hall Law School.
Progressive advocates joined with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a lawsuit against Milwaukee, saying plans to block them from protesting near Fiserv Forum violate First Amendment rights. Republicans, on the other hand, said the protest zone is too close as it is.
“The protesters can't be sort of banished to a place where the protests will not be meaningful,” Hafetz said. “At the same time, you do need to have protections in place.”
Although protecting the convention will be a massive undertaking, Norman said it will not be the department’s only focus.
“We have an entire city to protect,” he said.
On Friday, the Secret Service will discuss some of the security measures it is taking and will unveil its public safety map, showing which parts of downtown will be accessible or closed off.