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Fact Sheet: The Department of Homeland Security Partners with Local and State Agencies to Protect Republican National Convention

Release Date: 08/25/04 00:00:00

Homeland Security Allocating Numerous Department Resources to Ensure Strengthened Security for National Special Security Event

On July 9, 2003, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that the Republican National Convention was designated a National Special Security Event (NSSE) establishing the U.S. Secret Service, now part of the Department of Homeland Security, as the lead federal agency in charge of the design and implementation of the operational security plan.  Over the course of the past year, numerous local, state and federal agencies have worked together to put in place an unprecedented level of security for the political convention.  Working in partnership with the New York City Police Department and other local and state organizations, the Department of Homeland Security has invested substantial resources and numerous personnel to ensure a safe and secure event for the New York community and all delegates attending the convention.

 United States Secret Service (USSS)

  • In July 2003, the U.S. Secret Service designated a security coordinator for the Republican National Convention who has been responsible for establishing the Executive Security Planning Committee, serving as a liaison to all DHS component agencies and Secret Service headquarters while developing the overall security plan for the event.
  • The U.S. Secret Service conducted comprehensive security assessments of all primary convention venues as well as hotels, hospitals, airports and other sites related to the convention.
  • The U.S. Secret Service coordinated multiple interagency training exercises and tested operational security plans to verify command and control protocols and procedures.
  • For security reasons, specific methods of protection and preparation are not revealed; however, there is a tremendous amount of advance planning and coordination in the areas of venue, protection, airspace security, communication, emergency equipment, credentialing and training.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

  • ICE is providing the second largest cadre of federal law enforcement personnel in support of security and public safety efforts at the Republican National Convention.
  • ICE Federal Protective Service (FPS) personnel will ensure public safety and continuity of operations at federal facilities within the New York City area.  This deployment will also include Explosive Detector Dog teams, WMD/HAZMAT technicians, intelligence analysts, undercover agents, uniformed officers, bicycle and motorcycle officers, and emergency response teams.
  • ICE FPS will provide Mobile Command Vehicles (MCV) to serve as highly advanced communication centers for multiple law enforcement agencies. Each MCV is equipped with the capacity to operate as primary or backup radio base stations for all levels of law enforcement, monitor video cameras from U.S. government facilities and retrieve different types of closed circuit video signals.

 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • FEMA is the lead agency responsible for providing emergency management coordination and any needed response and recovery assets.
  • FEMA will support state and local emergency management services and first responder units by pre-deploying emergency personnel to serve with Emergency Response Teams, the National Disaster Medical System, a Mobile Emergency Response Unit and an Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.

 U.S. Coast Guard

  • As the primary federal maritime law enforcement agency, Coast Guard personnel will provide comprehensive waterside coverage on and over the water for the Republican National Convention coordinating closely with local, state and other federal maritime law enforcement assets.
  • Numerous Coast Guard units and personnel will be involved in this event including boat crews, law enforcement boarding teams, pilots and aircrew, support personnel and a wide variety of Coast Guard assets.
  • Coast Guard helicopters will assist in security zone surveillance and enforcement as well as air interdiction efforts.
  • The Coast Guard's Captain of the Port has worked closely with commercial shipping interests and other waterway users to minimize the effects of  security zone enforcement on recreational boating, commercial fishing and the free flow of commerce into and out of New York.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • CBP will provide inspectors to assist with overall security personnel as well as operate a mobile x-ray unit to examine suspicious packages entering a Convention facility.
  • CBP will also provide x-ray equipment to scan commercial vehicles and delivery trucks such as food service providers as they enter the Republican National Convention site.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

  • TSA conducted security and vulnerability assessments at affected commercial, general aviation and private airports as well as additional actions to enhance aviation security near Republican National Convention sites.
  • TSA will deploy personnel to sites at or near the Republican National Convention to ensure security and communication capability between various modes of transportation.

 DHS Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate (IAIP)

  • During the Republican National Convention, the Department’s Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) will provide timely sharing of any threat information, intelligence, situational awareness and operational information pertinent to the security of the event through the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN).  HSIN provides real-time connectivity and information sharing among all DHS components and local and state partners.

DHS Science and Technology (S&T)

  • In coordination with the U.S. Secret Service, S&T is deploying air monitoring equipment for the duration of the Republican National Convention.

Federal, State and Local

The following federal, state and local agencies, departments and organizations are also dedicating security resources to the Republican National Convention including:

  • American Red Cross
  • AMTRAK Police Department
  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Long Island Railroad
  • Madison Square Garden
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department
  • New Jersey Transit Authority
  • New York City 311
  • New York City Fire Department
  • New York City Mayor’s Office
  • New York City Office of Emergency Management
  • New York City Police Department
  • New York County District Attorney’s Office
  • New York National Guard
  • New York State Governor’s Office
  • New York State Office of Public Security
  • NORAD/NORTHCOM
  • Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department
  • Republican National Convention Committee on Arrangements
  • United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
  • United States Department of Homeland Security
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • United States Postal Inspection Service
  • United States Postal Service

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This page was last modified on 08/25/04 00:00:00