Despite concerns over rioting and political violence during the official nomination of Donald Trump for president, the Republican National Convention has proceeded in Cleveland this week relatively calmly.
It’s a far cry from the fears that prompted the city to up its liability insurance to $50 million – a quintupling of the coverage originally planned for the event. A full $9.2 million of that went to securing an additional insurance policy for the increase in police presence in Cleveland.
Colloquially known as “protest insurance,” the policy covers potential lawsuits related to police conduct for the event, including mistreated protestors and resulting injuries.
Yet it wasn’t enough to attract the kind of police force Cleveland wanted. Concerns over liability and lack of workers’ compensation, coupled with a rise in violent attacks against law enforcement officers, prompted police from Cincinnati and Greensboro, North Carolina to decline to come to Cleveland.
“I was made aware of short time ago that the city of Cleveland will not provide workers’ compensation insurance for our officers should they suffer an injury during this event,” Brian James, Greensboro Deputy Chief of Police, wrote in a letter to his counterpart in Cleveland.
“In 2012, we assisted the city of Charlotte, North Carolina with the Democratic National Convention and Workers’ Compensation Insurance was provided to our officers working this event. This will cause the city of Greensboro to assume responsibility for any reported injuries for our officers serving in their normal capacity but outside of our jurisdiction.”
James added that police administrators in the city expressed a lack of confidence in Cleveland and its preparedness for the RNC.
“Due to this reason, they declined to send officers from their jurisdictions,” he said.
Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott also withdrew his offer to send 30 deputies over concerns about the amount of insurance available to police.
Yet so far, Cleveland law enforcement officers have arrested just five people: three for climbing a flag pole at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, one for a felony warrant and another for stealing a gas mask from an officer’s vehicle.
Police even report being treated warmly for the most part, with people thanking them for their presence downtown.
Ohio Highway Patrol Sergeant Aaron Belcher said he got goosebumps when a crowd outside a Downtown hotel applauded and cheered when he and three colleagues walked by.
“They were [yelling] ‘thank you,’” Belcher told the
Columbus Dispatch. “It makes us feel good.”
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Fears over police/Trump protestor clash at GOP Convention prompt Cleveland to buy insurance
How Mike Pence affects the insurance underwriting of Trump’s campaign
