After ‘No Tear Gas’ Rule, Police Agencies Decline to Help with Democratic National Convention

The 2020 US presidential election has already been one of the most tumultuous in modern history, and there are still nearly 100 days until the American people will actually be casting their votes.

Sure, we hear it all the time:  This is the most important election of our lifetimes.  And that may very well be true, but only on account of the fact that elections aren’t renegotiable after the fact.  Once we remind ourselves of this reality, the only truly important election will always be the next one.

But enough about the mainstream media’s flair for the dramatic – Lord knows that we have enough drama in our politics already.

As the Democrat National Convention approaches from just over the horizon, the possibility of political violence is at an all time high in America.  This has led to some fairly troubling scenes in cities such as Portland and DC, and a new rule enacted for the DNC has some police forces concerned for their safety. 

A citizen oversight commission last week directed Milwaukee’s police chief to publicly account for why the department used tear gas during protests in late May and early June after the killing of George Floyd and to change Milwaukee police policies to ban the use of tear gas and pepper spray. The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission said in its order that Police Chief Alfonso Morales could be fired if he fails to comply.

That order comes amid intense scrutiny of police tactics at protests in Portland, Oregon, and elsewhere.

And here is where that order will come home to roost:

Since the Milwaukee order was issued, police departments in Fond du Lac, Franklin and West Allis have backed out of assisting with providing security at the Democratic National Convention, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday . Their departure cast doubts on the viability of the program designed to bring about 1,000 officers from outside agencies to provide security at the convention, which is scheduled to take place Aug. 17-Aug. 20.

The news comes as the Republican National Convention has been scaled down dramatically due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.