Republican National Convention: Security officials brace for 'anything and everything'

About 150 anti-Trumpprotesters marched along the streets inan unscheduled demonstration Sunday in downtown Cleveland,a peaceful event thatlaw enforcement officials likelyhope will be the standard over the course of the next four days.

Slowly followed by dozensof officers on bicycles, the demonstrators, many who supported the Black Lives Matter movement,held up large banners that read "Stop Trump and the RNC" and "Stop Trump and stand against racism." And when it was over, the crowd quietly dispersed.

Police Cmdr. Keith Sulzer said the protestersdid not have one of the official protest permits that have been handed out to dozens of groups who have come to the city, the site of the Republican National Convention.

Still, policeallowed them to march."We're letting them voice their concerns and that's completely fine," Sulzersaid.

There were other peaceful rallieson Sunday. Circle the City WithLovegathered hundreds at the Hope Memorial Bridge to spread a message of unity and anti-violence. And dozens ofwomen posed nude near the arena as part of an art project.

It remains to be seen whether police will be as permissiveabout such protests as the Sunday march when the convention officially kicks offon Monday, when concerns ofviolence will beheightened. Thousands havepoured into the cityfor theconvention, and thousands more, representing various causes, are preparingto march and demonstrate.

"Let's put it this way: our son is volunteering and I'mcomfortableenoughwith what I'veseen to have him down here," said Clevelandresident Rich Dugan, who, with his wife, was among the scores of delegates, volunteers, media and police milling around the popular downtownEast4th Street district. "Planfor the worst andhopeforthebest. It's not really kickedintofull gear yet, so we'll takeone day at a time."

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams has saidlaw enforcement officials tasked with overseeing the security of the city during the four-day Republican National Convention are prepared for "anything and everything."

Williams said the force hasgonethrough the "what if" scenarios, the "table top" exercises security sessions discussing the roles, responsibilities and responses to any given situation and ultimately "have planned for everything that can and will happen."

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The RNC, at Cleveland`s Quicken Loans Arena,brings together delegates from across the country to vote on the party platform, hammer out party rulesand officially choose theparty's presidential and vice-presidential candidate.

Conventions have often been the scene of violent protest, and that concern has been amplifiedby the tension across the U.S. in the wake of high-profile police shootings of black men, which have led to demonstrations and clashes with police.

Security issues have also been heightened following the shooting of five police officers in Dallas by a sniper and the recent attack in Nice, where more than 80 people were killed when a man driving a truck barrelleddown a crowded street.

'Concerned about the possibility of violence'

Then on Sunday, three Baton Rouge police officers were shot to deathand three others wounded.

"It always heightens your senses, and we always knowit's something that we can face," saidSgt.Scott Louive of the Ohio State HighwayPatrol. "Our goal isto just make sure that everybody is safe."

There is also worry that Donald Trump supporters and protesters, who have clashed at other rallies, could precipitate more violence.

"I am concerned about the prospect of demonstrations getting out of hand," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told the House homeland security committee this week. "I am concerned about the possibility of violence."

FBI Director James Comey, speaking at that same hearing, added thatthere is always concern that an event like this will attract people from across "a spectrum of radical groups."

Along with local officials, dozens of federal agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have been and continue to be involved in security detail.

The city was given a $50-million grant to boost security specifically for the Republican convention. Officials have been wary to provide information on security, but anywhere between 4,000 to 5,000 lawenforcement officers including state, local and those fromother jurisdictions will be on hand for the event. Officers have undergone hours of comprehensive training, Williams said.

Extra equipment includes 2,000 sets of riot gear with bodyarmourand batons, 2,500 steel barriers and16 police motorcycles, CNN reported. Meanwhile, securitycameras have been placed throughout the city.

"Trust me. There willbe enough video coverage both on the groundand in the sky," Williamstold reporters.

Around 3,000 personnel, including members from the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Securityand the Coast Guard, are dedicated to the security of the convention itself, Johnson said.

On Friday, officials set upconcrete traffic dividers and tall metal fences around the convention site,propelled by fresh urgency in the wake of the Nice attack.

Security experts said that the U.S. Secret Service andother law enforcement agencies have viewed vehicles as apotential threat since early in their 18 months of planning forthe convention.

A4.4-square-kilometre eventzone has been established in downtown Cleveland, with protestgroups being assigned permits and being limited to certain areas. Some whonever sought a permit, however, have suggested they may demonstrate in other areas.

No tennis balls, but guns OK

Security officials drew up a list of prohibited items within the event zone that include items as diverse aswater and pellet guns, knives, sledgehammers, ladders, coolers andice chests, canned goods, umbrellas with metal tipsand tennis balls.

But Ohio is an "open carry" state, meaning gun-owners will be able to carry firearms, except within the security perimeter that surrounds the convention venue, dubbed "The Q."

This has raised some concerns, as there were reports thatcertain groups, like the Oath Keepers, may come armed. But the national president of the organization denied this.

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But not all are satisfied with the security detail.Steve Loomis, president of Cleveland's police union, hasurged Ohio Gov.JohnKasichto suspend open carry laws for the entire state during the convention and to declare a state of emergency.

Call for suspension of open-carry laws

"I don't care what the legal precedent is, I feel strongly that leadership needs to stand up and defend these police officers," he said in an interview with Reuters on Sunday, following the shootings in Baton Rouge.

Kasich'soffice responded to the call, saying he does not have the power to suspend the laws.

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Loomis has argued that his members are not prepared for the conventionand that officers were not getting equipment on time or receiving the proper training for it.

Cleveland's police chief dismissed Loomis' concerns.

"I don't think rank-and-fileofficers sharethe union president'ssentiment," he said.

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