Why are out-of-state police in Milwaukee? What to know about RNC law enforcement
A deadly shooting Tuesday by police from Ohio has brought greater public attention to police mutual aid around the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
A fatal police shooting in Milwaukee by members of Ohio’s Columbus Police Department has brought attention to the fact that out-of-state law enforcement is in the city to assist during the Republican National Convention, which runs from Monday, July 15, through Thursday, July 18.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that upwards of 4,000 police officers from 24 states and Washington, D.C., are in Milwaukee to help handle the surge of visitors and traffic during the four-day event.
This is part of a mutual aid agreement between Milwaukee’s police department and more than 60 other law enforcement agencies that have sent officers there.
On Tuesday, five Ohio officers responding to an altercation between two men shot one of them after he rushed at the other with two knives.
The shooting victim, identified by a relative as Samuel Sharpe Jr., lived in a Milwaukee tent encampment and was apparently well known in the neighborhood.
The shooting took place within a mile of the Republican National Convention’s security perimeter but was unrelated to the convention, Paste BN reported. The officers were called back to Columbus following the incident.
Where are police at the RNC from?
In May, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers issued an emergency declaration in anticipation of the convention which cleared the way for calling for outside help as part of a mutual aid arrangement called the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. EMAC is a federal law that provides for sharing first responders and supplies between states in emergency situations.
According to the Journal Sentinel’s reporting, police have come from dozens of departments across the country: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Police and firefighters from cities and towns across Wisconsin including Green Bay, Madison and Waukesha and state police are also present in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Police Inspector David Feldmeier told the Journal Sentinel that “Our intent is to place (outside police officers) in positions where they're not necessarily forward facing,” like directing traffic, leaving local police to be the face of the operation in roles including crowd control.
Outside officers in Milwaukee will be accompanied by Milwaukee officers and are not supposed to make arrests except in urgent situations where the Milwaukee Police Department isn’t available.
The assisting forces are bound by the Milwaukee Police Department’s standard operating procedures for crowd control as well as rules of engagement and use of force policy.
This policy calls for de-escalation when dealing with "peaceful demonstrations," defined as ones where no participants break any laws, but officers are authorized to use pepper spray, pepper balls, sonic weapons and rubber bullets as a “last resort,” Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman told the Journal Sentinel.
The Milwaukee Police Department will be responsible for investigating any misconduct by outside officers.
Officers will each follow their own agency’s body-camera policy.
Up to 1,000 private security contractors might also be deployed during the convention, but they’re not supposed to be positioned to engage with the public, the Journal Sentinel reported.
How can you watch the RNC?
Paste BN is streaming the RNC from start to finish, and you can watch it here: