Out-of-state officers may fill St. Paul security hole

Last update: August 4, 2008 - 11:14 PM

Print this story

Homicide map: A comprehensive map of Minnesota homicides and links to crime stats, booking records and sex offender registrations.

More from Political Conventions

The St. Paul Police Department is considering going out of state to help complete the 3,500-member security force it says is needed for next month's Republican National Convention.

Chief John Harrington said Monday that the department inquired with agencies in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, but that no final decision has been made to tap officers there. The comments came during a news conference in which he said the city was well on its way to getting the 3,500 people needed to provide security in and near the Xcel Energy Center, and along roads, bridges and other transportation routes.

The chief declined, however, to say how many security slots had been filled. Last week, police spokesman Tom Walsh put the then-current number at 3,100.

Some agencies balked at signing joint powers agreements with St. Paul because they feared a $10 million cap on liability coverage might be inadequate. As of Monday, Harrington said, the city had 54 agreements in hand, and another 28 in the works.

He added that he expected the convention to be "a very, very safe event," and that he did not see it as being under any "significant cloud or [security] threat."

Of the chief's staffing goals, Dave Titus, president of the St. Paul Police Federation, said: "We're holding them to 3,500. We wish there were more. Time will tell if we're right."

ANTHONY LONETREE

Recent Political Conventions stories

Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - August 4, 2008

Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - As Hurricane Gustav threatens the Gulf Coast, President Bush is out to show the nation that his government has learned the haunting lessons of Katrina and is ready to act. That includes a rapid response by Bush himself, who will be planted near the danger zone even before the storm hits home. More