PRESS RELEASE from Tampa Police Department

For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Laura McElroy, Tampa Police Spokesperson
 
Tampa Police and Hillsborough County Sheriff Finalizing RNC Security Force

Tampa City Council Will Vote on Mutual Aid Agreement Next Week
 
Tampa, FL June 21, 2012 -

When the Republican National Convention takes place in Tampa this August, the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will work side by side with a coalition of local, state and federal agencies to ensure our citizens and visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. While the convention is a National Special Security Event designating the United States Secret Service as the lead agency for the convention, local law enforcement will oversee security for everything outside the event. TPD and HCSO have called on other agencies to build a unified team.

Fifty-nine local law enforcement agencies from across the Bay Area and the state will join the security team. The Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will train every officer, deputy and trooper assisting in the RNC daily operations. Tampa will utilize the Department of Justice RNC Security Grant to reimburse the local agencies for the hours their officers and deputies work during the event. A contingent from this team will also travel to St. Petersburg to help secure its pre-RNC event in August.

"The City of St. Petersburg welcomes the RNC. Our law enforcement officers are working together with other agencies throughout the Tampa Bay region to ensure a safe and successful event." Chief Charles "Chuck" Harmon, St. Petersburg Police Department

"This is a tremendous regional event and we are pleased to be part of the unified law enforcement effort to make it a safe event." Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

"The Pasco Sheriff's Office is proud to be part of the law enforcement coalition for the RNC. This collaborative effort is just another example of how well law enforcement agencies work together in the Tampa Bay region." Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County Sheriff's Office

"As law enforcement officials, we have an obligation to ensure the safety of our communities. Working in collaboration during events of magnitude, such as the RNC, ensures that the residents and visitors of Central Florida have peace of mind knowing safety and order will be maintained by well-trained and professional law enforcement officers." Sheriff Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff's Office


"The Republican National Convention is a significant state and regional event. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is proud to work with the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and various other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of everyone. This event will have a historical perspective and a major economic impact on Floridians. I would like to thank Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor and Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee for extending the invitation to participate and for their enormous advance planning of this event."
Sheriff Jerry L. Demings, Orange County Sheriff's Office

"It is always important when having major events that it is approached from a regional aspect. We are excited to have officers involved in this important event, and we are always willing to support the City of Tampa and the Tampa Bay region." Chief Lisa Womack, Lakeland Police Department

"We welcome the opportunity to work with our law enforcement partners. For large-scale events, such as the RNC, it takes agencies pooling their resources to ensure the safety of conference participants, visitors, as well as local residents." Sheriff Al Lamberti, Broward County Sheriff's Office

List of Assisting Agencies in Alphabetical order- Some agencies have already signed and returned the mutual aid agreements. Tampa expects to have all the finalized legal documents by next month.

Alachua County SO
Auburndale PD
Bradenton Beach PD
Bradenton PD
Brevard County SO
Brooksville PD
Broward County SO
Charlotte County SO
Citrus County SO
Clearwater PD
Collier County SO
Dade City PD
Daytona Beach PD
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco
Florida Division of Insurance Fraud
Florida Division of State Fire Marshal-Bureau of Fire & Arson Investigations
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Highway Patrol
Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement
Fort Myers PD
Gainesville PD
Gulfport PD
Hernando County SO
Hillsborough County SO
Kissimmee PD
Lake County SO
Lake Wales PD
Lakeland PD
Lee County SO
Leesburg PD
Manatee County SO
Marion County SO
North Port PD
Ocala PD
Ocoee PD
Orange County SO
Orlando PD
Osceola County SO
Oviedo PD
Palm Beach County SO
Palmetto PD
Pasco County SO
Pinellas County SO
Plant City PD
Polk County SO
Punta Gorda PD
Sarasota County SO
Sarasota PD
Seminole County SO
Seminole PD
St Cloud PD
St Petersburg PD
Tarpon Springs PD
Temple Terrace PD
USF PD
Volusia County SO
Waldo PD
West Palm Beach PD
Winter Haven PD
Winter Park PD
Winter Springs PD