For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
Again, our thanks go to the thousands of law enforcement and homeland security personnel who contributed to the security of the Democratic National Convention.
About 2,600 of our DHS personnel were on hand in Philadelphia this week. As in Cleveland, the Secret Service was responsible for coordinating security for the convention. And, as in Cleveland, the U.S. Secret Service was supported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, other components of DHS, and about 1000 other federal government personnel. They executed this large and complex security operation professionally and successfully. This is business as usual for the Secret Service, but once again we owe the Secret Service, under Joe Clancy’s leadership, our praise and admiration.
I also congratulate Commissioner Ross and the Philadelphia Police Department for maintaining public safety and security throughout the City of Philadelphia this week. There were large and diverse numbers of demonstrators in Philadelphia this week – larger than in Cleveland. Most were peaceful; some were not, and were arrested. Further, thanks to prompt and alert action by the police and the Secret Service, a number of individuals attempting to breach the security lines, apparently for the purpose of disrupting the Convention, were prevented from doing so.
Far too often, success in a massive public safety effort is overlooked, even taken for granted, while bad news is front-page news. We should never take for granted the excellence, dedication and sacrifice of our law enforcement personnel, both in leadership and on the front lines. Thanks to them all!
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