California Sends 61 Officers To Help Bolster Security For 2024 RNC

Over the weekend, 61 law enforcement officers from California went to Milwaukee to help expand security for the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC), a move which, following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday, has only proved to be more vital for the event.

For the past several national conventions, both RNC and DNC, California has sent contingents of law enforcement from various agencies to help local and federal authorities with security. They were previously most notable for the 2016 contingent to the RNC in Cleveland where California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were often seen in footage patrolling near large Network setups outside the event. For the 2024 RNC, the request for officers to go to Milwaukee has been in the works since May, coordinated largely by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). In total, 61 officers were selected to go to Milwaukee this year, with 40 coming from the CHP, and the rest coming from the Bakersfield, Fresno, and Long Beach police departments.

However, right before being deployed over the weekend, a major security issue occurred. While giving a campaign speech in Butler, Pennsylvania, President Trump was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt. In addition to Trump being injured, 1 spectator was killed with 2 others critically injured as well from gunfire. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service gunfire. While much about the assassination attempt remains unknown, including motive, it did have those in charge of RNC security to review. Less than 48 hours after the attempt, RNC officials said that security would be bolstered at the event, especially around Trump, who is expected to accept the party nomination later this week.

With public concern of security outside the main convention area being high, especially after the Butler shooter had fired from an area off the main security area of the speech on Saturday, state law enforcement contingents were deemed more needed now more than ever to help patrol outside the Firserv Forum in Milwaukee. It was under this increased need that the 61 officers went to Wisconsin over the weekend. They were sent under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) in support of local, state and federal law enforcement partners at the Convention, with EMAC being a cooperative agreement amongst states across the nation that provides mutual support during emergencies and planned events.

“Public safety transcends party lines,” said Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday in a statement. “California is proud to support our law enforcement colleagues in Wisconsin during this important political event. Working together, we are helping to provide a safe and secure environment for all participants at the Republican National Convention.”

California law enforcement at the RNC

Cal OES Director Nancy Ward added that “It is critical we support our law enforcement colleagues in Wisconsin and the safety of participants at this significant event, California’s peace officers are well-trained and experienced in handling large-scale events, and we are confident in their ability to enhance the security operations in Milwaukee.”

In addition to crowd management, the officers are also expected to be on patrol and help with traffic control and general public safety matters. In the wake of the assassination attempt and heightened security, those general security tasks have proved more vital than ever, as it frees up the Secret Service and other federal agents more tied to Presidential protection to help secure a safe visit for Trump, his family, and other major lawmakers attending the event.

“I was sent out of state a few times to help with events like that, and I can tell you, we are appreciated,” explained Bay Area Security consultant and former policeman Frank Ma to the Globe on Monday. “Californian officers, at least in my experience, always got the more crowd-based assignments because the officers from here all had some sort of crowd experience or were more attuned to spot something off. And it’s just not me saying it. This is what supervisors at these events always told us. Smaller state or states with less people, you know, they didn’t have it as much.

“So those 61 in Milwaukee right now are definitely very much appreciated, especially after everything that happened. The RNC people want a safe event and increased security as a result. And so, the Californian officers are a bit prized there. Everyone is going to be on edge.

“I know that this was planned months ago, but still, California is sending a lot of officers there. I think we can appreciate putting politics aside, at a political event no less, and just wanting to keep everyone safe.”

The Californian officers are expected to be in Milwaukee all week, with the convention ending on Thursday.