BSO Deputies Head To Tampa For RNC Security
WESTON (CBSMiami/AP) – When 70,000 Republicans, journalists and protestors descend of Tampa Bay for the Republican National Convention, part of the security contingent keeping the peace will be from the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Nearly 100 Broward deputies will leave from Weston on Thursday. BSO is sending the largest contingent, consisting of Field Force member deputies, trained in crowd control and managing civil unrest.
More than 3,000 officers from 59 law enforcement agencies from around the state, along with Florida National Guard troops will also be in Tampa to patrol the streets.
Congress has given Tampa and Charlotte, the location of the Democratic National Convention, $50 million each in taxpayer money to pay for the extra security.
Tampa police spent about $13.6 million on big-ticket security items like 200 bicycles, 13 electric all-terrain vehicles and one armored truck. They also purchased seven Segways, 1,765 handheld radios, 163 vehicle-mounted radios, helmets, face shields and body armor. The radios were the biggest purchase at $6 million.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
