The city and county of Denver has announced $18.2 million in security-related equipment purchases that have been made for the Democratic National Convention.
The purchases include $2.1 million in personal-protection equipment for police officers, $1 million in traffic barricades and $525,000 for equipment for the Sheriff’s Department to help process people if there are mass arrests.
“Our priority is to keep Denver open for business and to ensure the convention is a historic, memorable and safe celebration for all,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “This budget overview reaffirms to the public our goal to provide the most effective and comprehensive security possible while maintaining an event that is inclusive and enjoyable for all.”
The purchases were funded by $50 million that Congress appropriated to both convention host cities for security, training, equipment and supplies.
The city also announced today that none of the equipment purchases include nonlethal weapons that discharge “slime” or “goo” to immobilize persons or vehicles or that use microwaves or sonic waves to induce pain or discomfort in targets.
That revelation has prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to agree to cancel a scheduled court hearing and wait until after the Denver convention to revisit its claims for more detailed information about the security purchases, city officials said.
Denver police officers are undergoing 30 hours of additional mission-specific training programs in preparation for the convention.
“For officers that will be involved in crowd management, the training focuses on how to facilitate the safe movement of crowds throughout downtown,” Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman said in a prepared statement. “The emphasis is not on arresting people but on gaining voluntary compliance with requests that enable everyone to safely exercise their First Amendment rights.”
The police say they do not have a “mandatory arrest” policy for violations during the Denver convention or any other time. Officers may issue a citation rather than place a person in handcuffs.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
