Tampa ready to begin spending convention security funds on police upgrades
By Richard Danielson, Times Staff WriterTampa Bay Times
In Print: Saturday, December 31, 2011
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TAMPA — No sooner will the Tampa City Council accept $50 million for security at next year's Republican National Convention than it will begin to spend the money.
Council members are scheduled to vote on receiving the U.S. Department of Justice security grant on Thursday. Then, in their very next item of business, they will consider spending nearly $273,000 of the funds on a new armored SWAT team truck.
Later in the same meeting, they'll consider spending another $1.18 million from the grant to convert the analog video feed from cameras in police helicopters to a state-of-the-art digital downlink.
Police say they would need both upgrades eventually even without the GOP coming to town Aug. 27-30. But officials want both in place before the convention, which could draw an estimated 15,000 protesters.
"It's one of those things where you prepare for the worst and you hope for the best," Tampa Assistant Police Chief Marc Hamlin said Friday.
The city has two armored vehicles now. One is almost 20 years old, the other almost 30. "Both are military surplus," Hamlin said. "We're struggling to keep them going. Parts are hard to come by."
So the city is looking at spending $272,904 on a Lenco BearCat armored SWAT truck. The manufacturer, based in Massachusetts, uses secret proprietary methods to provide protection against assault weapon gunfire at a lighter weight than other vehicles. The BearCat has a turning radius of less than 18 feet, shorter than the length of the vehicle itself.
If the council approves the contract Thursday, Lenco said the vehicle could be delivered by July 12, six weeks ahead of the convention.
How the BearCat might be used at the convention "depends on what happens," Hamlin said, but such vehicles are typically called up to send officers into situations where they might draw fire. Other local agencies have similar vehicles that also are expected to be on hand for the convention.
The video downlink conversion would replace a system the department has used since 1999. It's as obsolete as black-and-white TV, Hamlin said. Agencies in Pinellas and Hillsborough have gone digital, and officials say Tampa needs to convert to be able to coordinate with them.
The new system would be able to stream encrypted, high-definition video to handheld receivers or monitors in police command and hostage negotiation vehicles. The system also would work with a Tampa Fire Rescue heavy rescue vehicle and fireboat.
The contract would go to sole bidder Broadcast Microwave Services of Poway, Calif. Tampa is asking that the company provide on-site technical assistance and support during the convention.
Up to two-thirds of the federal security grant, which was approved by Congress last month, will go toward bringing in, housing and feeding 3,000 or more outside law enforcement officers that the city thinks it will need to work the convention. That's on top of Tampa's nearly 1,000 police officers and Hillsborough's 1,100 sheriff's deputies.
The city also plans to spend up to $2 million installing about 60 surveillance cameras around downtown Tampa for the convention. And city officials say they could have to buy a couple of thousand radios so that officers coming to work the convention from different parts of the state will be on the same communications system as local officers.
Reach Richard Danielson at Danielson@tampabay.com, (813) 226-3403 or @Danielson_Times on Twitter.
[Last modified: Dec 30, 2011 10:18 PM]
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Viewing 1 - 17 of 17 comments Oldest First Newest First Top Rated
cpr1200r Dec 30, 2011 6:00 PM Yesterday A para-military organization with a new credit card w a $50mil limit...WaHoo!!
Reply Report Abuse 2 10
John Connor Dec 30, 2011 10:11 PM Yesterday what a bunch of sh*t! $50 million for these pinheads to p i s s down the drain on new playtoys! all this c r a p about how broke our government is and how we don't have enough money and the debt, etc? What a bunch of garbage! So the next time you hear the Repiggies in DC tell us how dire the nation's economic situation is and how we have to cut SS, medicare and the education budget you'll know it's all a bunch of C R A P! Reply Report Abuse 3 7
Not the Marlboro Man Dec 31, 2011 8:05 AM About 5 hours ago If it wasn't for rioters and Black Flag anarchist protesters along with Occupy morons (supported by the Obama administration I might add)threatening to burn down the city and to disrupt the convention as they have promised, I would tend to agree that this could be construed as wasteful spending. However I would direct your attention to You-Tube and the last convention in Denver and Minneapolis, where these Black Flag idiots burned cars, through acid bombs at police officer and did everything in their power to disrupt the convention. Philadelphia was caught off guard a couple of years ago when they tried to use conventional measures for a summit held there when these scum showed up. So if you don't want your city burnt to the ground and your town made to look like an embarrassment like Vancouver was after the Stanley Cup go ahead and complain. But if you don't know what you are talking about why not trying educating yourself first before you start calling the Assistant Police Chief name Reply Report Abuse 3 1 Pascopilot Dec 30, 2011 6:16 PM Yesterday All the Republicans, in the United States, are not worth 50 million dollars!!
Reply Report Abuse 6 9
windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:30 AM About 5 hours ago and ALL the ●●●●●●●●● are worth even less. Reply Report Abuse 2 0 Pascopilot Dec 30, 2011 6:22 PM Yesterday $omebody i$ making $ome big buck$ for very little effort!
Kinda like Halliburton in Iraq and Afghanistan. A no bid contract winner and Dick Cheney's former employer, who gave Dick a 25 million dollar bonus to run with GW Bush. (THey called him 'W', so he could spell it). They (Halliburton) made BILLIONS from that no bid contract. And here I thought the GOP/TEA was the Honest party. What a shock they aren't!!!!!!!!
Reply Report Abuse 4 8
scott adamms Dec 31, 2011 9:18 AM About 4 hours ago They are trying to get that armored SWAT team truck in time for Gasparilla so Captain Buckhorn & his band of City Council pirates can lead the parade with a giant banner that says TAMPAS STREETS ARE ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE SAME AS WE DO. The Mayor will soon cordon off entire sections of the city for his Gasparilla buddies & have the cops protect them while he sends the same police to terrorize & arrest other citizens. What a bunch of hypocrites. Talk about Honest Services Fraud imagine how many unemployed homeless they could help with a small part of that money. They abuse the laws in their own behalf while they distort them against their own citizens. Check out Hypocrite in chief Buckhorn online stating: "They can not set up tents in the park, NO ONE is PERMITTED to do that." Soon there will be tents everywhere for the Mayor’s cronies. The video is At OccupyTampa.org under Forums/Themes Tactical Planning/What our elected Officials said- the Mayor Buckhorn Thread. Its half wa Reply Report Abuse 0 3 Steamboat Willie Dec 30, 2011 6:43 PM Yesterday It's going to be one hell of a show. Armored vehicles roaming the streets, helicopters hovering overhead, riot squads armed and ready to shoot to kill if need be. We'll show those godless heathens around the world what the "Land of the Free" and Democracy is really all about!
Reply Report Abuse 2 11
Bleacher Bum Dec 30, 2011 8:10 PM Yesterday yeah! Sounds like there having an open season on Liberals. 15,000 expected. All I can imagine is Los Angeles burning. The streets alive with molotov cocktails, cars on fire, rubber bullets whizzing like a disturbed hornets nest, and "There is nothing like the smell of burning tires in the evening air. Sounds to intense to me, I think I'll just stay at home and watch the mayhem on Faux News. Reply Report Abuse 4 6
ANGRYTAXPAYER Dec 30, 2011 9:04 PM Yesterday Our police will not be as lax as L.A. This is a law & order state. The criminals will be dealt with with as much force as necessary. Reply Report Abuse 8 3
Steamboat Willie Dec 30, 2011 9:55 PM Yesterday "Are there any queers in the theatre tonight Get'em up against the wall There's one in the spotlight He don't look right to me Get him up against the wall And that one looks Jewish And that one's a ●●●● Who let all this riff-raff into the room There's one smoking a joint And another with spots If I had my way I'd have all of you shot" theWall Reply Report Abuse 2 5 windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:36 AM About 5 hours ago The POLICE STATE of the UNITED STATES OF OBAMA CARE. PLEASE Deposit ALL of your personal Items into the bin so we can share them with everyone else who hasn't worked for them. and make sure you Neal to the east each morning afternoon and evening. We will change the name of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA to The SOCIALIST ORDER of the ONCE most powerful country in the world. Reply Report Abuse 4 0
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:20 PM About -1 minutes ago F THAT. THIS IS ALL AROUND THE GOP CONVENTION, loser !!!
Reply Report Abuse moondoggie601 Dec 30, 2011 8:52 PM Yesterday Kid in a candy store.
Reply Report Abuse 1 4 McBob Dec 30, 2011 8:57 PM Yesterday Lock and load! Strict enforcement on law-breakers so that the democratic process can happen without being hijacked.
Reply Report Abuse 8 1
John Connor Dec 30, 2011 10:14 PM Yesterday let's hope McBoob ventures out and gets hit with bags of feces thrown by anarchists! It's gonna be WW3 out there that you can take to the bank. Reply Report Abuse 2 4 Blackbean Dec 30, 2011 8:59 PM Yesterday The Bear Cat sounds a little out of it's element,considering, these are potential political protestors, unarmed,and at best, a nuisance.
Reply Report Abuse 1 7 ANGRYTAXPAYER Dec 30, 2011 9:02 PM Yesterday DO WHAT ALABAMA DOES & GET FREE MILITARY EQUIPMENTS FOR IRAQ.
WHY WASTE $273,000 WHEN YOU CAN GET ARMOR VEHICLES FOR FREE MINUS SHIPPING COST.
Reply Report Abuse 2 4
windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:44 AM About 5 hours ago But it's SO MUCH FUN to spend/WASTE Tax Payer money. Reply Report Abuse 0 1 DontBullShitMe Dec 31, 2011 2:05 AM About 11 hours ago Did any of you idiots see what happened at the last RNC in Minneapolis?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c0CqBVbfXA&feature=related
start watching at the 30 second mark
Reply Report Abuse 3 1 larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 4:05 AM About 9 hours ago year's Republican National Convention than it will begin to spend the money.
Council members are scheduled
SHOULD BE THEN NOT THAN. just sayin ... other than that, thanks for excellent article Mr. D.
Reply Report Abuse 1 1 larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 4:27 AM About 9 hours ago Oh, sheriff. Does this mean when you HOVER CONSTANTLY OVER MY BADLY NEEDED FOR YOUR GAMBLING PARTY PROPERTY you will video downlink what I'm doing in my backyard to all the cops you station at my fence pretending they are pulling over some hapless crack dealer while your classification officer guards the crack houses ????????????????????????????????? Cool. Y'all so nosey. You should have just asked me what I wanted. Now it's gotten ugly. And how's that working out for you? I'm considering suing Duran RIGHT NOW. NOW. And that will mean YOU. Get your stupid sharks ready.
Reply Report Abuse 2 1 Dave in St Pete Dec 31, 2011 7:32 AM About 6 hours ago The police do NOT need an armored vehicle! We need to stop this militarization of the civilian police forces. Swat teams with 'no knock' warrants kicking in the (often) wrong doors, dressed all in black with their faces covered are WRONG! Riot shields, sure; shotguns, sure; Armored vehicles and full auto assault rifles, NO! The police are CIVILIANS we hired to enforce the laws that WE propagate. They are NOT the elected leaders army!
Reply Report Abuse 0 5
windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:49 AM About 5 hours ago They are trying to be Military when we DO become a POLICE State. Disarm the Citizens, Arm the police to the MAX and now they have a bunch of SUBJECTS rather than CITIZENS, Easily controlled. Reply Report Abuse 0 3
amazed11 Dec 31, 2011 10:14 AM About 3 hours ago Thank the GOP for that Reply Report Abuse 1 3 robert47 Dec 31, 2011 8:39 AM About 5 hours ago Amazing the GOP can vote (25 teabaggers) No on a returning Veteran Jobs Program but can pi$$ away $50 million on foriegn made camera equipment, to protect thier sorry programs .
hope these hired crowd beaters just turn thier backs on protecting these a-holes!
Reply Report Abuse 1 4 PalmHarbor11 Dec 31, 2011 8:39 AM About 5 hours ago This all started with Reagan..you remember him, the guy who sold Iran 4400 Tow Rockets? He was our first Fascist President.
Reply Report Abuse 1 4 scott adamms Dec 31, 2011 8:53 AM About 5 hours ago They are trying to get that armored SWAT team truck in time for Gasparilla so Captain Buckhorn & his band of City Council pirates will can lead the Gasparilla parade with a giant banner that says TAMPAS STREETS ARE ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE SAME AS WE DO. The Mayor will soon cordon off entire sections of the city for his Gasparilla buddies & have the cops protect them while he sends the same police to terrorize & arrest other citizens. What a bunch of hypocrites. Talk about Honest Services Fraud. Imagine how many unemployed homeless they could help with a small part of that money. They abuse the laws in their own behalf while they distort them against their own citizens. Chek out Hypocrite in cheif Buckhorn online stating: "They can not set up tents in the park, NO ONE is PERMITTED to do that." Soon there will be tents everywhere for the Mayor cronies. The video is At OccupyTampa.org under Forums/Themes Tactical Planning/What our elected Officials said- the Mayor Buckhorn Thread
Reply Report Abuse 0 1 Blackbean Dec 31, 2011 9:52 AM About 4 hours ago Much has already been said about this, but I don't think any are naive enough to believe we aren't heading to a time when all this militarization will be used to keep people subjected to a leadership they don't approve of.The people who carried out the original Tea Party,were PROTESTORS.
Reply Report Abuse 0 3 thomasito chocolato2 Dec 31, 2011 10:26 AM About 3 hours ago hahaha! the cameras already has been set up everywhere in downtown for the last few months. Oop soory I spilled the bean.
Reply Report Abuse 0 2
thomasito chocolato2 Dec 31, 2011 10:28 AM About 3 hours ago oh btw,we have the most cameras in tampa than anywhere in the US right now Reply Report Abuse 0 2
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:22 PM About -1 minutes ago thomasito, do you know WHY that is? It's too monitor the frequent drug deals. THAT is about the only reason anyone visits tampa. The MASONS/Dopedealers don't want anyone getting "lost" with all that cash they're carrying.
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:23 PM About -1 minutes ago Tampa: hope you sink into oblivion with spongebob plaidpants at the oozing bottom. NO INSULT TO MY BELOVED SPONGEBOG SQUARE PANTS.
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:23 PM About -1 minutes ago Oh, sheriff. Does this mean when you HOVER CONSTANTLY OVER MY BADLY NEEDED FOR YOUR GAMBLING PARTY PROPERTY you will video downlink what I'm doing in my backyard to all the cops you station at my fence pretending they are pulling over some hapless crack dealer while your classification officer guards the crack houses ????????????????????????????????? Cool. Y'all so nosey. You should have just asked me what I wanted. Now it's gotten ugly. And how's that working out for you? I'm considering suing Duran RIGHT NOW. NOW. And that will mean YOU. Get your stupid sharks ready.
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:23 PM About -1 minutes ago fifty bucks says henry duran retires soon !!!
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:24 PM About -1 minutes ago
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