His note, in full, is below.
The City of Cleveland is just over a week away from the beginning festivities of the 2016 Republican National Convention. This event will put Cleveland in the national spotlight, as did the Cleveland Cavaliers parade just a short time ago. The time is upon us once again to showcase Cleveland and what we, as a community, are all about.
Throughout the course of planning for the RNC, our officers have undergone hours of training relative to many subjects. Although not all training can be discussed or demonstrated as law enforcement tactics are sensitive, the training has been both comprehensive and valuable.
Equipment has been purchased and much of it has been received and distributed to our members. For instance, the Division of Police purchased 300 bicycles which are outfitted specifically for law enforcement purposes. Many of our officers have received training through the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association, making them certified riders. The purchase of this fleet of bicycles will also allow the Division to expand the bicycle unit throughout the city during future patrols and events well after the RNC.
Not all Cleveland Police Officers will participate in activities directly relative to the Republican National Convention. Approximately 1/3 of the members of the Division of Police will be assigned to RNC duties during the course of the event. The remaining members will continue to fully staff the five (5) neighborhood districts and all specialized units during the week of the RNC.
The City of Cleveland, Division of Police has partnered with law enforcement agencies throughout the country to ensure that we have an adequate number of law enforcement officers to staff the needs of the convention. Our officers have trained with many partnering agencies at the local, state and federal level to ensure that the highest safety standards are maintained. We are thankful to our law enforcement partners for their generous support.
I would like to take this time to thank the men and women of the Cleveland Division of Police for your continued commitment to the safety and security of the citizens of and visitors to the City of Cleveland. Your dedication to training and to this job is commendable. I ask that throughout the course of the event, that you remain committed to the well-being of one another as days will be long and the work will be challenging. We will work well as a team and with our partners, as we always do.
This is an exciting time for our great city. This is an historic event and another in the line of recent and we believe future large scale events. I am looking forward to a safe event and I thank you for your support.
