Philadelphia police helping keep peace at DNC

A contingent of Philadelphia police officers is in Charlotte helping with security at the Democratic National Convention.

The assignment is not costing Philadelphia any money.

About 70 Philadelphia police officers and supervisors are working the convention in Charlotte. Police Spokesman Lt. Ray Evers says Charlotte officials reached out to Philadelphia for assistance.

“We have about 15 motorcycle officers from our highway patrol are there, and about 50 officers plus supervisors helping out with security needs around the DNC,” Evers said.

Evers says because Charlotte has a midsized police department, it couldn’t possibly do this on its own. Philadelphia officers have helped in other cities before, he said.

“We helped out at the G-20 in Pittsburgh, I believe that was about a year and a half ago,” Evers said. “Minnesota the RNC there, three to four years ago. We helped out there.”

Evers says the costs of the officers, including overtime and expenses are completely paid for by convention organizers or the city asking for assistance, not Philadelphia taxpayers.

When the Republican National Convention was held here in 2000, Philadelphia received assistance from federal and state law enforcement agencies.