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Police Chief Calls DNC 'Success'

Credits Multiagency Effort

POSTED: 3:27 pm MDT September 2, 2008
UPDATED: 6:25 pm MDT September 2, 2008

No broken windows, no fires, a half dozen injuries and half the arrests made so far at the Republican National Convention; those are the facts looking back at the DNC in Denver.

During a one-on-one interview with Call7 Investigator Theresa Marchetta, Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman declined to comment on security problems at the RNC, but was quick to praise the local law enforcement efforts at the DNC last week.

"It was pretty amazing to see 52 agencies working together as one department on one mission," he said.

Whitman said the DNC was a "great success" not only because of the strategic planning that went into it, but also because of the attitudes of the officers on the streets.

"They felt they were a part of the DNC rather than just protecting it," he said.

The massive DNC security effort was sandwiched between other local events, so endurance was an issue that was anticipated.

Whitman said officers were relieved often and that meals were provided by the department.

"I wanted every possible person in a uniform," he said.

It was a decision Whitman took heat for from protest groups like Recreate 68, who said Denver looked more like a police state during the convention.

Whitman said reaching out to the public and protesters alike well ahead of the event provided a comfort level on the streets and at the venues when the convention started.

"We lead every parade. We had a contact in each group months before the event," he said.

Whitman also said good police work prior to the DNC took weapons like bricks and bottles of urine and feces out of the hands of the few intent on causing harm.

"We found everything you mentioned around the city, stockpiled," he said, "They actually went to get some of the things we'd discovered. So you know their intent was to damage property."

Glenn Sapgnuolo, of the group Recreate 68 said officers baited protesters.

Sapgnuolo said he was, "Hit in the chest with a billy club," while trying to leave a protest.

He also said "300 people were detained for two hours" downtown after a protest the first night of the DNC.

Recreate 68 said it is considering both class action and civil law suits against the Denver Police Department.

Chief Whitman said their goal during the DNC was compliance and that those arrested were given multiple opportunities to obey the law.


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