Wausau Police Officers Heading to Milwaukee to Secure 2024 Republican National Convention

Thursday, May 16th, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Wausau’s finest will be heading to Milwaukee to help secure the 2024 Republican National Convention.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, both the Finance Committee and City Council approved an intergovernmental services agreement with the City of Milwaukee for the event.

Chief Matt Barnes says eight to ten members of his force will put their special training in crowd control and any potential civil unrest to work during the event in mid-July.

“Several years ago [the state] recognized that no individual agency has the staff [appropriately trained] to deal with that,” said Barnes. “[The Wausau PD] was identified as a location [for that training.]”

Barnes adds that it’s part of a statewide intergovernmental services agreement. “When needed, we will travel throughout the state whenever necessary. And when the time comes that [we need help,] they come serve us.”

Salaries and travel expenses for the officers will be covered by the City of Milwaukee. Barnes notes that there will also be some Marathon County Sheriff’s Officers called in to help with the event. The RNC is scheduled for July 15th-18th and will be held in and around Fiserv Forum.

The city had a similar agreement in place with organizers of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was also scheduled to be held in Milwaukee, but that agreement was canceled when the event shifted to a virtual format originating from the Wisconsin Center.

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