By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó Local law enforcement officers will be among those providing police protection when Charlotte hosts the Democratic National Convention in 2012.
The Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriffís Office received emails from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Aug. 1 requesting the assistance.
The Police Department has agreed to provide the officers, and the Sheriffís Office is considering the request.
Salisbury Police Chief Rory Collins wrote in an e-mail to the Post that while he has not determined the number of officers or amount of equipment he will send to Charlotte, he is happy to help with the convention.
ěBecause I feel that it is the right thing to do and because I have no doubt that CMPD would provide assistance to our department should such a need arise, I fully intend to meet Chief Monroeís request,î Collins wrote.
In a letter to Sheriff Kevin Auten, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe wrote that the convention ěrequires the implementation of extraordinary security measures which will be compounded by the attendance of the sitting president and the security demands associated with his presence.î
The event, which will take place at the Time Warner Cable Arena from Sept. 3 to Sept. 6, 2012, has been designated a National Special Security Event.
Any participating officers from outside agencies will have to be in Charlotte from Sept. 1 through Sept. 7. Officers will also be required to work 12-hour shifts on each deployment.
Participating officers will be reimbursed at an average pay of time and a half for all hours worked and transportation costs to and from Charlotte.
Collins said officers who participate will also have to complete assignment-specific training leading up to the event.
He said this type of assistance is common among law enforcement agencies ěwhen the need presents itself.î
Capt. John Sifford of the Rowan County Sheriffís Office said agency officials will contact Charlotte-Mecklenburg this week to discuss the convention, but have not yet determined whether it will be possible to send deputies to Charlotte.
Rowan County is ěour primary responsibility,î Sifford said.
Collins said he doesnít see Salisbury policing being affected by the agreement to help out at the convention in Charlotte.
ěI feel it important to add that, though we will be providing CMPD with this assistance, we will manage this in such a way that the service available and provided to our citizens within the city of Salisbury will in no way be negatively impacted,î Collins wrote.