Milwaukee leaders reflect on RNC security, impact
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Republican National Convention drew an estimated 50,000 people to Milwaukee, but also brought deep security that kept many away. And today, some city leaders are questioning, was it worth it?
A group of Milwaukee Common Council members, led by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, are now pressing the city for answers about two things they say haven't sat well. First, did the RNC really add to the local economy as much as originally anticipated? And second, exactly how did Columbus, Ohio, police end up in a fatal shooting in our city?
"There are still questions of why the Columbus Ohio police force was at 14th and Vliet. That hasn't been answered clearly," said Alderman Robert Bauman, Milwaukee Common Council.
Ald. Bob Bauman says after sitting in on the planning of the Democratic National Convention that got cancelled in 2020, he knew enough to not support a Milwaukee RNC.
"And I saw all that fencing, and I saw all those barricades and I saw the maps with all the street closures, and I said they are shutting down Milwaukee," said Ald. Bauman.
All that security was set into motion by the Secret Service.
"And as far as regular citizens of Milwaukee, are being basically told to stay home, stay away, and if there was ever a message to that effect, it was their 10-foot heavy, steel black fences which were very intimidating and very scary," said Ald. Bauman.
Milwaukee police coordinated with thousands of officers who helped out. All the overtime, Bauman says, is part of a $75 million federal grant for the RNC and DNC.
"It's a lot to take on, to keep the entire perimeter safe and the rest of Milwaukee safe," said Assistant Chief Nicole Waldner, Milwaukee police.
Police from all these departments made for incredible visibility in and out of the secure zone (see list below).
"We had the help we needed here, and had they not been there, a different tragedy could've occurred," said Assistant Chief Waldner.
Asst. Chief Walder was referring to the Columbus police shooting of Samuel Sharp Junior.
Waldner was incident commander for the RNC. She says the safety meetings started over a year ago.
"And we went through scenarios for the whole day, up to the day before, of what we would do," said Assistant Chief Waldner.
Milwaukee's DPW also helped out.
"I think we had half a dozen dump trucks filled with gravel parked around the Pfister as basically barriers - setting out the jersey barriers at various intersections, getting them placed, then moving them into place," said Ald. Bauman.
But Ald. Bauman says all that security came at a cost.
"You lock in the delegates, and you lock out the rest of the community and that's essentially what happened, which is why the Third Ward was deserted during the four days, East Town was deserted, Bronzeville saw no surge in business," said Ald. Bauman.
Ald. Bauman says on a positive note, the RNC showed Milwaukee's assets.
"I think the national exposure was positive. Was it worth it? I guess the jury is out. I want to see what the actual economic benefit numbers are, what they claim they are, to see if it was worth it. Would I support doing this again? I hope that this is out of our system," said Ald. Bauman.
Ald. Bauman gave a shoutout to DPW. He says within eight hours of the gavel dropping, signifying the end of the RNC, they were able to get many of the roads open again.
In-state
- Brown Deer PD
- Wisconsin State Patrol
- Wisconsin DOJ
- Elkhorn PD
- Rock County Sheriff’s Office
- West Milwaukee PD
- Wisconsin State Fair Park Police
- Grand Chute PD
- Racine PD
- Fond du Lac PD
- Beaver Dam PD
- WI DNR
- City of Brookfield PD
- Green Bay PD
- Franklin PD
- Watertown PD
- Algoma PD
- West Allis PD
- Mequon PD
- Gibraltar PD
- Fort Atkinson PD
- Appleton PD
- Winnebago Co. Sheriff’s Office
- Madison PD
- Wauwatosa PD
- Superior PD
- Whitefish Bay PD
- Muskego PD
- Jefferson PD
- Lake Mills PD
- West Bend PD
- East Troy PD
- Shorewood PD
- South Milwaukee PD
- Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office
- Whitewater PD
- St. Francis PD
- Glendale PD
- Greenfield PD
- Hartland PD
- Waukesha PD
- Mukwonago PD
- Dane County Sheriff’s Office
- Manitowoc PD
- Sheboygan PD
- Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office
- Theresa PD
- Cedarburg PD
- Linden PD
- Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
- Greendale PD
- Racine County Sheriff’s Office
- Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office
- Marathon County Sheriff’s Office
- Cudahy PD
- Lacrosse County Sheriff’s Office
- Oshkosh PD
- Saukville PD
- Hartford PD
- Walworth PD
- River Hills PD
- Fox Crossing PD
- Walworth County Sheriff’s Office
- Elm Grove PD
- Waterloo PD
- Pewaukee PD
- Brown County Sheriff’s Office
- UW Madison PD
- New Berlin PD
- Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety
- Beloit PD
- UW Milwaukee PD
- Menasha PD
- Washington County Sheriff’s Office
- Janesville PD
- Wisconsin Rapids PD
Out-of-state
- California - Fresno
- California - Long Beach
- California - California Highway Patrol
- California - Bakersfield
- Colorado - Thornton
- Colorado - Denver
- Colorado - Colorado State Patrol
- DC - DC Metropolitan Police
- Florida - Panama City
- Florida - Bradenton
- Florida - Miami-Dade
- Florida - Palm Beach County
- Florida - Miami
- Florida - Orange County
- Florida - Florida Highway Patrol
- Florida - North Bay Village
- Georgia - Sandy Springs
- Illinois - ILEAS
- Indiana - Indiana State Police
- Kentucky - Kentucky State Police
- Kentucky - Louisville Metro PD
- Maryland - Carroll County Sheriff's Office
- Maryland - Prince George's County
- Massachusetts - Massachusetts State Police
- Michigan - Michigan State Police
- Minnesota - Bloomington
- Minnesota - Hennepin County
- Minnesota - Rochester
- Minnesota - Ramsey County
- Missouri - Kansas City
- Missouri - Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Nebraska - Nebraska State Patrol
- Nevada - North Las Vegas
- New Jersey - New Jersey State Police
- New Mexico - Farmington
- North Carolina - Concord
- North Carolina - Cary
- North Carolina - Charlotte-Mecklenburg
- North Carolina - Greensboro
- North Dakota - Bismarck
- North Dakota - Fargo
- North Dakota - Burleigh County
- North Dakota - Dunn County
- North Dakota - ND Highway Patrol
- North Dakota - University of North Dakota Police
- Ohio - Ohio State Highway Patrol
- Ohio - Akron
- Ohio - Cuyahoga County
- Ohio - Columbus
- Ohio - Cleveland Metroparks
- Ohio - Trumbull County Sheriff's Office
- Oklahoma - Tulsa
- Oregon - Forest Grove
- Tennessee - Knoxville
- Tennessee - Tennessee Highway Patrol
- Tennessee - La Vergne
- Tennessee - Metro Nashville
- Texas - Fort Worth
- Texas - McAllen
- Texas - Dallas
- Texas - Austin
- Virginia - Virginia Beach