Federal Funds Will Cover Insurance For Police At Republican Convention
Part of the federal funds awarded to Cleveland for security at the Republican National Convention will be used to pay for insurance to cover the out-of-area law enforcement contracted to help patrol the area. More than 50,000 visitors are expected in the area next week, where presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump will make his nomination official. The city was given a National Special Security Event federal grant worth 50 million. From those funds, 9.5 million has been spent on an insurance policy that provides 50 million in coverage for incident insurance, private property insurance and vehicle and equipment insurance, Dan Williams, a spokesperson for the city, told TIME. During an event that is sure to have tempers running high, the insurance plays an especially critical role. If out-of-area law enforcement deploy force, even lethal force, the insurance would cover the resulting costs of the incident, effectively protecting contributing police forces from the burdens of financial liability. "We are prepared to be responsible for that," Deputy Chief of Police Ed Tomba told TIME, when asked about a hypothetical fatal use of force by an outside police force. More than 2,500 out-of-area officers, including law enforcement state, federal and other local jurisdictions, will be brought in to supplement the approximately 500 Cleveland officers who will patrol the event zone. The process of contracting out-of-area law enforcement began as soon as the city was awarded the convention and has been "ongoing," Tomba said. He added that the city exceeded its goal for officer recruitment.