The GOP Convention may still be three months away, but Cleveland police are getting ready. CNN reports that the city has received a federal grant of 50 million dollars to outfit its police force with body armor and other gear.
You would think they’re expecting trouble or something!
The city is looking to buy 2,000 sets of body armor. In what sounds ominously like a description of combat gear, the armor is said to include upper body and shoulder protection as well as guards to cover elbows, shins, and forearms. It will also have tactical hard knuckle gloves.
As if that’s not good enough, Cleveland police will also be fitted with tactical vests from a company called FirstSpear. In case you were wondering what kind of company that is, here’s what their mission statement says:
“The Primus Pilus, or First Spear, was the Senior Centurion of a Roman Legion.
“Centurions were the guardians of Rome.
“When Rome fell to barbarian invaders, there were fewer than five hundred qualified Centurions. Not because Rome had fewer people but because it had fewer people willing to make sacrifices.
“And the last Centurions left their shields in the heather and took a barbarian bride…..”
“FirstSpear™ dedicates our work and our efforts to those modern Centurions who hold the line and ensure that our way of life does not fall! It is an honor and a privilege to directly support those at the tip of the spear!”
Yikes. Sounds like close combat readiness to me.
The police will not only have their bodies completely protected right down to those tactical hard knuckles, but the armor will also include a helmet with a mandible guard and visor. You can see more of this armor on the Ops Core Website.
And let’s not forget the collapsible “controlling” batons, the 2,500 interlocking steel barriers, the horse trailers and specially equipped bicycles and the 2,400 “Cambelbaks” so they won’t get thirsty.
A part of me is horrified. This doesn’t sound like a city that is getting ready to welcome thousands of citizens who will be exercising their democratic rights.
On the other hand, it sounds like a city that is expecting Donald Trump and his hordes, who have already threatened that there would be “riots in the street“.
Featured image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr. Available through a Creative Commons 2.0 license.
