Florida Sheriff Warns That Officers Unable To Provide Security For RNC
July 20, 20205:39 PM ET
Duval County, Fla., Sheriff Mike Williams on Monday said Jacksonville police are not currently able to provide security for the Republican National Convention, citing poor planning and a lack of funding for the last-minute event.
The August convention — typically the hallmark for formally nominating the GOP candidate for president — has been complicated this year by the deadly coronavirus crisis. The keynote events had already been moved to Jacksonville from Charlotte, N.C., after a dispute between President Trump and Gov. Roy Cooper over the safety of holding a multi-thousand person event amid the pandemic.
"Every effort has been made, countless hours spent, and all have been committed to the mission to keep our city safe. And at this point, we're simply past the point of no return to execute the event safely," Williams said in a Monday news conference.
Williams said that financial shortfalls in equipment and manpower, as well as the short notice for the location change, led to his outlook that his agency would not be able to adequately secure the event.
more:
http://www.npr.org/2020/07/20/893238618/florida-sheriff-warns-that-officers-unable-to-provide-security-for-rnc
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