GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The slimmed down Democratic National Convention is just a few weeks away, but police agencies who’d previously agreed to help with security, are no longer on board.
Fond du Lac police officers are pulling out of the Democratic National Convention.
“I and a growing number of other chiefs at least across the Wisconsin Police Executive members have decided to withdraw resources to the DNC,” said Fond du Lac Police Chief William Lamb.
Lamb is keeping 12 officers home. He tells FOX 11 it’s because the city of Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission want them to stop using tear gas and pepper spray during protests.
“We will not be sending our police in an enforcement that frankly the officers are being set to fail.”
Chief Lamb says the order prevents officers from protecting themselves, and protecting the public.
“How horrifying it would be for any person stuck inside one of those situations where law enforcement officers are not able to disperse a crowd or otherwise gain control of the situation because that very effective tool has been taken away from them.”
Especially during events like the DNC.
“A commonly held belief among the law enforcement here in Wisconsin that even though what is going to be a largely virtual there are likely going to be protests and law enforcement has an obligation to the public.”
It’s not only Fond Du Lac. Nearly 100 other police agencies are withdrawing from sending officers to the DNC. However, Green Bay at this time says they’re committed to their promise
“It’s a commitment we made, I’ve spoken with the chief in Milwaukee,” said Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith, “Chief Morales and I made this commitment and we are going to honor it.”
Smith tells FOX 11 he plans to send 15 SWAT officers to help with the DNC. However, that could change.
“If they change the ground rules so much that it compromises the safety of officers, then I in good conscious don’t think I could send our officers down there.”
Green Bay police will be there to assist Milwaukee officers and respond as needed.
The convention is set to start August 17th.
Comments