'A testament of the skills of our officers.' Janesville police on security duty at Republican National Convention

MILWAUKEE — Janesville police officers are gearing up every day this week alongside thousands of other police officers from across the country, providing security at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

Sgt. Rogelio Carrasco of the Janesville Police Department said in an interview at the convention Wednesday that he and eight other officers are part of Janesville’s mobile crowd control unit. He said they were requested to be at the convention to help patrol the space and keep attendees safe.

He said the mobile unit is specialized in crowd control and diffusing protests.

The officers work in 12 hour shifts from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and have been mostly used for foot patrols and in the staging areas.

Carrasco said the Janesville team has responded in the past to help maintain and secure out of hand protests in Madison, Milwaukee and Beloit.

Just four days after an assassination attempt Saturday on former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s life roughly 4,000 officers from law enforcement agencies outside the city of Milwaukee arrived to help with security.

Janesville Police Chief Chad Pearson said in an interview Wednesday that it is not only an honor to the Janesville community but an honor to the police department to have local officers at the convention.

“It is a testament of the skills of our officers to be brought into such a large-scale incredible event,” he said. “It means so much to me to have my officers there.” ‘

Pearson said Janesville officers are certified and trained in dealing with protesters who might, for instance, might chain themselves to poles or building and they know how to remove the person safely and keep crowds from getting unruly.

“Events like this one can unravel,” Pearson said.

That pride he feels does not come without worry.

“After Saturday’s events there is a huge safety concern. I worry not that my officers can’t perform their duties but fear for their individual safety and the possible impact on their families,” Pearson said. “Their spouses and children are sitting at home watching what happens on TV and they are worried about them and what could happen to them. I have fear about if something would happen and what it would do to them at home.”

Sgt. Carrasco said that as of Wednesday, Janesville police officers had not found themselves in any unsafe situations. And he said at least as of now, Janesville police have not been requested to be at the Democratic National Convention coming up in August in Chicago.

He said they are very honored to be in Milwaukee.

“We are having fun and it is a bit uneventful but honestly that is the best outcome we can ask for,” he said.