INDIANAPOLIS — With security measures at the Republican National Convention increasing, Indiana State Police have helped by bringing in extra troopers.
Sixty-two troopers arrived in Milwaukee Saturday afternoon, hours before the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
ISP was asked months ago by the Milwaukee Police Department to go to the RNC to add security. The Indiana State Police presence was not a response to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
The department says there's now an even bigger push to work with the other agencies at RNC to keep the area safe.
"Our goal every single time is to make sure that everyone who attends to include everyone involved and attending are as safe as possible," ISP Sgt. John Perrine said.
ISP told 13News there is no financial cost to the state to send troopers to RNC and expenses will be reimbursed by MPD.
Indiana State Police troopers were not requested to help with the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.
"We are not there as a frontline security. We are there to help the safety and security of all those attending," said Perrine. "We have troopers working inside an emergency operations center to help with effective communications about what's going on there. Essentially a large-scale dispatch center. Our troopers have different assignments that they're assigned, whether it be safety and security at an event or patrol."
Indiana is not the only agency that sent backup, but Perrine said Indiana offers a perspective that some other agencies may not.
"I think one thing the Indiana State Police offers for events like this is our experience in large scale events. We obviously host the Indy 500 every single year, but we've also been a part of other large events," said Perrine.
Perrine said they sent troopers throughout the state to minimize the impact it will have here at home.
"So we are able to continue to cover our patrol area and responsibilities with very little impact because of the troopers that we send," said Perrine. "Our goal is to keep everyone safe and secure. That's not only here in Indiana, but when we can offer those services outside the state to assist our partners from other police agencies throughout the country we will do that when needed."