Michigan State Police help secure RNC in Milwaukee

Michigan attendees of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee may notice some familiar uniforms; the Michigan State Police sent troopers to assist with security for the event.

Thirty-five state troopers were slated to go to Milwaukee starting July 13 in accordance with an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request from the city, according to an MSP press release last week. They will remain there for seven days, two days past the end of the RNC on Thursday.

“We stand ready to assist our colleagues in Milwaukee with this high-profile event,” said said MSP Director Colonel James F. Grady II. “As state troopers, our members are trained in crowd management and scene security to ensure a safe environment for everyone. We have planned our mobilization to ensure we leave adequate staffing here in our state.”

Under EMAC, states can receive and send help during disasters. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency for the City of Milwaukee in late May ahead of the RNC. His spokesperson, Britt Cudaback, said at the time that such a declaration is "a standard part of the preparation" for large events like the convention.

In Milwaukee, MSP personnel will "assist with security and crowd management outside the convention center," according to a press release.

Michigan is not the only state to dispatch its law enforcement to assist with the convention. According to a Wisconsin Emergency Management spokesperson, states that entered agreements to provide support under EMAC as of the declaration included Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey and North Carolina. California Gov. Gavin Newsom also announced Sunday that the state would send 61 law enforcement officers through EMAC.

Security is a heightened concern after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said that changes to Trump's detail have been put in place to “ensure his continued protection for the convention and the remainder of the campaign.” Trump's attendance at the RNC Monday evening was his first public appearance since the shooting.

Michigan has deployed MSP troopers to other states in the past, including for severe weather, hurricanes and the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. The press release notes that the City of Chicago did not make a similar EMAC request for the Democratic National Convention, which is slated to take place next month.

Diamy Wang is an audience engagement intern with the Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at dwang@freepress.com.