Secret Service Makes Final Preparations as Presidential Nominating Conventions Loom
The U.S. Secret Service is in the home stretch of security preparations ahead of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee in July and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago in August.
There are some added wrinkles to the security situation this year: the protests that erupted on college campuses over the war in Gaza, and the Chicago Secret Service field office is overseeing both conventions, which are both designated National Special Security Events (NSSE).
"It's unprecedented that a field office has had two NSSE events this close that were both conventions," said Secret Service Chicago Deputy Special Agent in Charge Derek Mayer.
In early June, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle toured both convention sites and met with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in both cities.
“The Secret Service collaborates with our local counterparts for every protective visit, investigation, and large event,” said Director Cheatle.
The RNC, where former President Donald Trump will receive the Republican presidential nomination for the third consecutive election, will be held July 15-18. The main events will be held at Fiserv Forum, with other events at the Baird Center and Panther Arena in Milwaukee.
The DNC, where President Joe Biden will be nominated for a second term, will be held August 19-22 in Chicago. The main event will be at the United Center with supporting events at McCormick Place.
RNC Security Zone
The Secret Service recently announced a “hard” security perimeter for the RNC, as well as two designated protest zones, and a route for protesters to march.
Included in the security perimeter is Pere Marquette Park, which means no protests will be allowed there. GOP officials wrote to the Secret Service expressing concerns about the possibility of protesters in the park, due to its proximity to some convention events, and the Secret Service ultimately agreed.
Milwaukee Police have plans in reserve in case protests get out of hand.
"So the expectation is express yourself. This is what our Constitution is based on. But we will not tolerate anything beyond that particular type activity, because this is our city, and we're proud of it," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
Official closures will begin July 14 and could last as long as July 19. That includes closures of parts of the Milwaukee River.
"We've been monitoring intelligence, any intelligence related to the RNC threats to the RNC, what that might look like both from leading up to and during the event. We do that both prior and in real time. We have no articulated threats," said Michael Hensle, FBI special agent in charge in Milwaukee.
Only credentialed attendees and volunteers can be inside the hard perimeter.
DNC
The DNC will be the Secret Service’s 79th National Special Security Event.
The security perimeter and other details of the DNC have yet to be announced. Protests are expected in Chicago as well.
“With two months left until the convention, the Chicago Police Department is finalizing plans and making sure all of our operations are set. Make no mistake, we are ready,” said Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling. “Constitutional policing and the First Amendment are the foundation of everything we are doing from policies to training.”