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FF officers to work RNC
Published Friday, August 1, 2008
Tim Brennan
Ten Fergus Falls police officers may be among the thousands of law enforcement serving the City of St. Paul during September’s Republican National Convention.
St. Paul officials are looking for over 3,000 officers to work during the convention, scheduled Sept. 1-4, said Fergus Falls Chief of Public Safety Tim Brennan. The City of St. Paul put out a statewide request for assistance over a year ago, he said, and several local officers expressed a willingness to help out.
“It looks like we’ll probably be sending about (10) off to participate,” Brennan said. “They will receive reimbursement for all their overtime and expenses through the City of St. Paul, via the Republican party, I believe.”
Brennan said the officers will likely be working site security at the Excel Energy Center or at one of the several Twin Cities hotels where convention participants will gather. They will be working 12-hour shifts, he said.
Fergus Falls has 23 police officers total, Brennan said, and the department will not spend any overtime dollars on the officers not going to St. Paul. The department is offering flexibility to those who’d like to switch shifts to accommodate the trip and will cover officers’ absence with regular hours.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by neon_freak (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
scary!!! since we have some of the finest officers in the area.................NOT!!!!!!!! wont mention names but im ure it dont take rocket scientist to figure it out!!! fergus cops r crooked!!!!!!
Posted by holymoly (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To neon-freak: If you left the "neon" part off your user name it would fit you better. You might also want to consider taking a remedial English course. What a dolt!
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a sad thing that a convention has to have such a police force. What is wrong with some of these <protest> people.
Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Mel, the cops are there because of the Repubs not the protesters
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure the cops will be overly impressed to read a person's opinion of them on here who can't even insult them without sounding like a fool themselves. Nice work.........NOT!!!!!!!!! Nice how you'll slam a whole group of people while you're 'anonymous'. Real gutsy.
Posted by holymoly (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey theweasel, if you really believe that then you're dumber than neon-freak!
Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Holymoly, if the republicans were not there our local cops would not be there. Somebody is always protesting something in St. Paul at our capitol, but our cops never had to go there until the republicans came to town. I guess that makes you the dumb one, you dork.
Posted by HotFergusMan (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm amazed at the level of maturity this discussion is bringing out in people. Thank you all for your intellectual thoughts.
Posted by ranger (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sumwun
I appreciate your opinion and respect the fact that you realize the anonymous factor in these posts.
To the other posters:
If you research the republican and/or Democratic convention in St. Paul/Denver. You will see that they are both equally required to have a multitude of police.
The freedoms we have in this country we owe to those who have fought for them. I might not agree with the protestors actions, but if the government disallowed them, then our our boys have died in vain. They have fought to preserve freedom in our country or others. Freedom to protest the government if thats your thing.
Unfortunately, when you have demonstrators that want to disrupt society that then requires a police presence to protect the rest of society.
If you read the protestors plans for the "militant action" on the last day, then maybe you would want more police in your town.
This election will be historical however it turns out. Let our state and city be a part of history, after all its bringing millions of dollars of revenue into our state and also dollars back home to our city.
Posted by tippy98c (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"They will receive reimbursement for all their overtime and expenses through the City of St. Paul, via the Republican party, I believe.”
You "believe"?
Perhaps you should find out "for sure" Tim. Of course the republican party of OTC should have no problem reimbursing the officers if need be.
Posted by tippy98c (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Check your brake lights and lane changes republicans!!! FFPD is workin the convention!!!
Posted by mccain08 (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
at least the FF cops will be doing something for a change, but with the FF cops protecting Mccain, obama will win for sure cuz john will be dead. guess i'll change my username.
Posted by shunka (anonymous) on August 3, 2008 at 3:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you really think that the FF cops will be in charge of presidential protection? Have you ever heard of the Secret Service?
Its not FFPD that will cost you your beloved candidate its stupid ignorant voters like you. You better change your username, if your the best they have they need help.
Are you forgetting the majority of rural law enforcement are republican?
You better research your demographics.
Better yet change your vote your sounding like a left wing liberal nut job more and more.
Posted by tsy86h (anonymous) on August 3, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just love how people can get on here and insult the very people that work hard to protect our city. Maybe we should let the FFPD take a week off and then we will see what you have to say about them. What, you see them once in a while stopping off for coffee, so you assume they do nothing for their entire shift? Maybe you should see if you could ride around with them once and then you could learn more about their job before you post your insults. We do live in a smaller town, and so yes the cops here maybe don't see as much action as they would if they worked in a big city. I am thank-ful that we do not have as much crime(I swear some of you would like it just so you would have something to read in the DJ), but there are still times though when FFPD may have to act on situations were they may be putting themselves in great danger to protect the citizens of FF. Instead of complaining about them because you were ticketed when you broke a traffic law, or because they busted your party when you were in high school (it maybe saved your life), why not tell them thank-you for what they do.
Every town that I have lived in, I have heard people say that the cops in the town are lazy and crooked. It is usually some punk that has been busted for DUI,drugs, or a few too many speeding tickets that is making the comments. There are lazy and crooked cops, but I don't think that they make up the entire FFPD. So, some day when you are in a deadly traffic accident and the FFPD is the first to arrive and right before the cop starts to perform CPR on you, make sure you tell him what you think of the crooked lazy Fergus Falls police deptartment.
Posted by mccain08 (anonymous) on August 3, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey shunka. why would a rural (or urban for that matter) law enforcement officer, or any other government employee be a "right wing conservative nut job"? we are against public services and the taxes to pay for them. as a conservative, dont you agree that if people want to be protected, they should hire a security force to patrol their property? in fact, as a loyal conservative you must believe that the only people who deserve education, health care, and police protection are the upper middle class or higher. it's hard to take you seriously when you call me a liberal but you support public services (a communist idea).
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