(NewsNation) — Preparations for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) are well underway with opening day beginning in four weeks at the United Center.
Chicago police were in Milwaukee for the entirety of the week observing protocols at the RNC in the wake of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
The tragedy in Butler, Pennsylvania. has set the wheels in motion for heightened security; both at the RNC and the upcoming DNC.
How is Chicago PD preparing?
Chicago police department spent time in what they called, the Secret Service nerve center, to assess their security operations.
Police superintendent Larry Snelling says Chicago has been preparing since it was named host city in April 2023.
Chicago’s chief of counterterrorism Duane DeVries was also in Milwaukee this entire week. He had a close eye on the RNC to make sure that he feels fully qualified when 1000s of people descend on Chicago.
What will operations look like?
There will be 500 additional officers brought in for the convention, ensuring Chicago PD can place its best officers on crowd control and field force work.
In preparation for the event, they have undertaken more than 40 hours of training to handle potential protests and disruptions.
Given the gross failures of the Secret Service and local police in Butler amid the Trump assassination attempt, Chicago PD has been in constant communication with Secret Service to avoid breakdowns in coverage.
What is Chicago PD saying?
“Our relationship here with the Secret Service has been stellar. It’s been 100% professional. Our communication is right on point,” Superintendent Snelling said at a press conference this week.
“I can tell you that the the contact and the collaboration between not only the Secret Service, but all of our federal partners around the planning of the DNC has been great, and we’re just going to continue that throughout.”