City leaders, Secret Service say Chicago ready to host 'safe, successful' convention

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — In a briefing held Tuesday in Chicago, leaders with the Chicago Police Department and U.S. Secret Service said the city is ready to host a safe and successful Democratic National Convention next week.

Derek Mayer, a Secret Service agent from the Chicago Field Office, was asked about the lessons learned by the agency from the July shooting at the Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

“We talk about that all the time,” Mayer said. “If you’re not learning and trying to be innovative and creative in law enforcement, you’re not doing your job. Obviously, all of us in law enforcement are trying to get better every day, but as far as comparing Butler to a National Special Security event, you can’t compare it.”

Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling stressed that safety will be a priority, and not just around the United Center. He promised that all 77 Chicago neighborhoods will have plenty of Chicago police and protection.

Snelling added that the city has done this before, referring specifically to the Democratic National Convention in 1996.

“Oftentimes it is forgotten that there was a Democratic convention between 1968 and now,” Snelling said. “It was a success. The Chicago Police Department does a great job of working through events like this. This will be no different.”

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