I have heard from non-government sources that part of the deal to bring the RNC 2024 convention to Nashville is that the RNC or the host committee will be purchasing additional equipment for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

At this point, I don’t know whether this information is accurate. But since there are substantial current efforts underway to lobby Council members to sponsor and vote for the RNC contract legislation, I am sharing the information for discussion now.

To me, it would be truly strange for a national political party to buy police equipment for any city. With hyper-partisan national and state politics spilling down to the local level, it seems borderline nutso to have a national political party buying extra equipment for a local police department.

That said, my immediate questions are about security concerns for the proposed convention. To be blunt, this convention would trigger the most extensive security lockdown in Nashville since the city was a Union-occupied Confederate capitol.

What equipment does MNPD need for the convention that it doesn't already own? If there is additional equipment that MNPD would need to keep everyone safe during a major security event like a national political convention, what becomes of the equipment after the convention is over?

This morning, I have emailed the Mayor’s Office to ask if the rumor I've heard is true. If so, I have asked the administration to provide the Metro Council with a list of the equipment that they anticipate would be provided to MNPD by outsiders for the convention.

Again, whether any of us are for or against the convention coming to town, we deserve to know what equipment MNPD needs or is receiving from outside sources for the convention.

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Here is my post from a few days ago about the convention.

You can email the Metro Council at CouncilMembers@nashville.gov. Let them know how you feel. Ask them to not co-sponsor or vote for this.