Police agencies withdraw from convention duty over tear gas rules
By: AJENews
Much ado about a Democratic Party convention that isn't going to happen.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
More than 100 United States police agencies are withdrawing from agreements to send personnel to bolster security at next month's Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in part because they are concerned about a recent directive ordering police in the city to stop using tear gas to control crowds.
A citizen oversight commission last week directed Milwaukee's police chief to publicly account for why the department used tear gas during protests in late May and early June after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and to change Milwaukee's police policies to ban the use of tear gas and pepper spray. The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission said in its order that Police Chief Alfonso Morales could be fired if he fails to comply.
That order came amid intense scrutiny of police tactics at protests in Portland, Oregon, and elsewhere.
Since the Milwaukee order was issued, more than 100 law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin and across the US decided against coming to Milwaukee, Morales told WTMJ-TV on Tuesday. They were concerned with directives placed on the police department, including not allowing tear gas or pepper spray, he said.
Morales did not say which agencies would not be coming or how many officers were still expected. The original plan was to have 1,000 officers on hand from outside agencies to assist with security. Morales said utilizing the US National Guard or enlisting federal assistance was under consideration.
The convention, scheduled for August 17 to August 20 at the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee, has been scaled down to a mostly virtual event, with only about 300 people expected to attend in person. Most of the speeches will be delivered online from other locations, though former Vice President Joe Biden has said he will be in Milwaukee to accept the nomination for the presidential race. Despite the event's smaller scale, police are preparing for potentially large protests in and around the venue.
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Police Chief William Lamb told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper that the agreements were collapsing, saying he expects other agencies in the state to also withdraw. Lamb chairs the Wisconsin Police Executive Group, which is made up of police chiefs from cities with populations of more than 20,000 people.
Lamb sent a letter to Milwaukee police on July 6 outlining his organisation's concerns about limiting the use of tear gas and pepper spray. West Allis, Wisconsin police first sent a letter to Morales with concerns in mid-June after Milwaukee's Common Council temporarily halted the purchase of those chemicals.
"Our concern is that in the event protests turn non-peaceful, such a policy would remove tools from officers that may otherwise be legal and justifiable to utilize in specific situations," West Allis Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher told the Journal Sentinel in an email.
The police chief of Waukesha, Wisconsin said he was consulting with the city attorney's office on how to withdraw from the agreement, which had promised about two dozen Waukesha officers.
Not all police departments withdrew because of the tear gas order. The Madison Police Department notified Milwaukee early this month that "an accelerating COVID-19 pandemic coupled with ongoing protests in Madison" had strained its resources, making it impossible to commit resources to the convention, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Madison originally committed to providing 100 officers to Milwaukee for what was to have been a 10-day convention before it got shortened and postponed until August.
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So much concern about protecting Democrats who won't be there and a Democratic convention that isn't going to happen. The grifters won't be getting any graft.
No. That would be Trump who is the real grifter.
I think they're worried about a repeat of the 68 Democratic convention.
Let the dopey Democrats provide their own security.
The worthless bastards will find out that antifa doesn't like them either.
Hope they do better than they did at the embassy in Benghazi....
I guess Democrats are really, really scared (still) of those with guns and Bibles attacking them!
LMAO!
OMG not Trump's Storm Troopers...
LOL!
Pretty bad when the Dems are throwing a party and even the police won't come! Hey libs, how's that defunding the police working for you?🤣
Perhaps they can get social workers.
Yeah, then they can talk to the "protesters" about their feelings.
Is that before or after they are pelted with bricks, fireworks, and maybe beaten with hammers- and whatever else the "protesters" can find?
I am sure the social workers will need counseling themselves afterwards.
Officer safety is important. If they take away an effective non lethal crowd control tool Police have right to consider their safety and that they might have to use other means in case of rioting
These "peaceful protests" always seem to go sideways...and the Democrats always seem to support the agitators.
Watch what is going to happen when Trump is reelected, if we think it is bad now...
yeah... they do.
source
Okay, so ONE instance.
What about the rest of the crap that happened there?
All one lone man??
LOL!
What you got ain't worth posting, bro'
He hasn't even been arrested so why not?
They don't even know if they have the right person.
5.1.2 Texan1211
and
5.1.3 Greg Jones
So rather than condemn the violence, as you are so quick to do with those you perceive to be liberal, you make excuses? If it's wrong for Antifa it's wrong for everyone.
Please quote me, as I know you MUST be able to do, making excuses.
Thanks in advance for proving what you claim.
I guess someone turned him in and they are still investigating. We'll know eventually.
They can't even identify the person.
That one man has not been charged with anything. Care to find out why?
Also, if those Brown Shirt "protesters" are so damn peaceful no amount of incitement could get them to riot, loot, vandalize, or commit arson.
Yeah, the geniuses that be decided tear gas was too harsh.
Bunch of freaking idiots!
I guess the cops can just stand there and politely ask people to disperse.
I am sure that will work on the Antifa type "protesters".
SMH at sheer lunacy!
Interesting - they can do it in Europe and there are no outcries.
LOL!!
Solution is to all chip in and get the cops a bunch of professor proton jr chemistry kits and create a HS science lab stink bomb experience, with leaf blowers of course.