Secret Service outlines security perimeter for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS)—The Secret Service and top city officials on Thursday outlined the security perimeters for the Democratic National Convention's two venues.

"We will do what is absolutely necessary to keep the city safe," Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said.

The DNC will take place from August 19 through August 22 at the United Center and McCormick Place. Security is expected to be very tight, especially in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. That will include restricted zones and road closures around both areas.

U.S. Secret Service Deputy Special Agent in Charge Derek Mayer started his remarks Thursday by saying, "An incident like what took place in Butler, Pennsylvania must never happen again." 

Snelling said police will assess and "move with the flow of intelligence" to maintain safety. He said police will be in constant communication with protest groups and that "clear expectations" have been addressed. 

"The Chicago Police Department will not only allow everyone who comes here to express their First Amendment rights, but we will also protect their rights while they are doing it," Snelling said. "What will we not tolerate is vandalism to our city. What we will not tolerate is activity—and if we see that, we will put an end to that quickly.". 

Mayer said the security plan "allows us to adjust for any possible scenario."

"At this time, there are no known particular threats to the DNC," said FBI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Lucas Rothaar. "However, as FBI director Christopher Wray had mentioned yesterday in his testimony to Congress yesterday, we are living in an elevated threat environment."

Officials will host a final training exercise just days before the DNC starts. The security plan includes detailed security procedures for planned and pop-up protest demonstrations.

"The shared goal is for everyone to express their views lawfully, while ensuring a secure environment for delegates, convention attendees, and the general public," Mayer said.

Snelling confirmed the safety plan goes beyond the DNC and all neighborhoods will be taken into account. 

According to Mayer, officials have also conducted dozens of outreach events with local businesses, residents, and community groups to help communicate their plan and minimize disruptions as much as possible.

The Chicago Police Department has been working with law enforcement in Milwaukee following the Republican National Convention. CPD visited the RNC to bring back safety plans to Chicago. 

Snelling said so far, police have not made any major changes to the security plan as a result.

"I don't want anybody to believe that we think that we have to make changes. We do not at this point," Snelling said. "But we are prepared to move with the flow of intelligence that we gather."

Mayor Johnson expects the city to be "peaceful and unified."   

"Chicago is ready," Johnson said. "We are no stranger to hosting large-scale events. We have a proven history as a host city." 

As seen on the maps for the areas around both the United Center and McCormick Place, the secure areas for the event are divided into a Vehicle Screening Perimeter, which is shaded in yellow, and a Pedestrian Restricted Perimeter, which is shaded in red.

In the yellow area, pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to enter freely, but vehicles will need to go through a screening point.

The red-shaded area will be accessible only to people with credentials or tickets.

There will not be fencing around the yellow zone, but there will be fencing around the red zone.

Temporary road closures will be in effect around McCormick Place beginning at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16—also the time when enforcement of the pedestrian and vehicle security perimeters will also begin.

Similar restrictions around the United Center will begin at approximately 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17.

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications is asking residents to sign up for a designated DNC text alert system—and of course, advising people to allow for additional travel time that whole week. 

"So I want to be clear that this is not just about the Democratic National Convention," Snelling said. "The Chicago Police Department has an obligation to the entire city of Chicago."

Retired Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy has been through similar drills.

"I was the commander there the year of the White Sox World Series run," Roy said.

Roy said the security footprint for the DNC this year is about the size he expected.

"If anything, it may have been expanded in wake of the attempted assassination last week—and it also addresses some hot spots in the area where there's indicators of gang activity or where violence has taken place," said Roy.

The CPD said it has also had good dialogue with protest groups planning to be in town for the convention.

As for how close protesters will be able to get to the actual convention sites, Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Hardy said the matter is pending.

"I can confirm that we are working in a format through the court to allow demonstrators to protest within sight and sound of the United Center, and as we get those details finalized through the court, we will come back and share those publicly," he said.

Supt. Snelling said his officers have responded to over 80 protest-related events so far this year, and have not had any major issues related to those.

Mayor Johnson said Chicago is ready for the big event because this will be the city's 26th time hosting a national convention.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would end his 2024 re-election bid and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, as the party's nominee. 

According to new rules passed Wednesday by the party's convention rules committee, the Democratic Party will select its new nominee virtually as soon as Aug. 1. 

The DNC also established that the party's candidate, which is likely to be Harris, must pick a running mate by Aug. 7, Ohio's current ballot deadline, which remains in effect.