Can this police chief keep Cleveland calm during the Republican convention?
Cleveland has been quiet so far -- and quiet is exactly how Police Chief Calvin Williams wants to keep it the rest of this week during the Republican National Convention.
With the first day of the convention in the books, Williams briefed the press Tuesday morning on police activity and movements around the event, which has been relatively calm considering the number of protesters.
According to Cleveland police, there were just two arrests yesterday for minor violations and another three people were detained this morning for trying to put up a flag at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The relative lack of arrests does not mean that Cleveland Police and the thousands of officers from states all over the country haven't been busy, however.
Williams told reporters that between 8 p.m. and 12 p.m. last night they received about twelve calls about small groups of masked protesters around the city affiliated with various groups wearing masks and acting mischievously.
There were no arrests and officers responded to each call quickly according to Williams but he took the opportunity to address the masked protesters directly and call them out for their menacing tactics.
"If you are a member of a group and you have to hide your face, if you have a cause that you have to cover your identify then you probably need a different cause." Williams said purposefully, "[M]y cause is for peace in this city and for everybody to be safe and I wear this white shirt and that white hat and you can find me anywhere, I am not hiding, I am not trying to be secret about it, so if you have something that you have to hide from, maybe you need to find something else."
This statement came after Williams detailed a conversation he attempted to have with some of these individuals in Public Square last night who basically walked away from him.
Instead of ignoring the police chief, Williams suggested protesters seek him out this week on the street.
"I encourage those young folks, if you want to talk to me, every day you see me out there walking around, come up and talk to me, you know the black guy in the white hat and the white shirt," Williams said as he patted his chest confidently.
One of the groups stopped last night was searched and police found both gas masks and slingshots, which are prohibited. Williams made it clear that the items were confiscated and in a moment of levity added, "What are you going to do with a slingshot in downtown Cleveland?"
Asked about the mood of his officers, Williams said those he has spoken with are "in a great mood" but "cautiously guarded" and that the force would not "let our guard down".