RNC - Feds consider bringing in troops

GOP fest may get G.I. patrol
By MAGGIE HABERMAN
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU

Federal officials have discussed bringing in U.S. troops to boost security at this summer's Republican National Convention - but the NYPD doesn't think it needs them.

"With 37,000 police officers, the Police Department does not anticipate the need for federal troops," said Paul Browne, the top NYPD spokesman.

Sources familiar with planning for the August convention said officials at a recent briefing discussed the possibility of using the same security model used in Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Olympics, where more than 5,000 troops augmented that city's small police force.

The number of troops mentioned during the briefing was in the thousands, sources said, adding that officials have discussed a similar strategy for the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July.

An official familiar with the planning said it seemed unlikely troops would be brought in.

Another federal official, who asked not to be identified, said no decision has been reached, but noted that the NYPD far outscales Salt Lake City's force, and has vast experience with large-scale events.

With the convention labeled a national special security event, the Secret Service is the lead federal coordinating agency. But Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has made it clear the feds would defer to the NYPD's expertise.

The NYPD may get some form of federal assistance "whether they want it or not," said one source involved in planning - although another official said it could take the form of an intense Secret Service and FBI presence, and not uniformed troops.

The aim is to balance a high security presence - to ward off possible attacks and also handle potential protesters - with keeping the city running like normal, several officials said.

For instance, even though there are several subway lines that run right by Madison Square Garden, the site of the convention, there are no plans to make major changes.

"We've had national conventions before with no need to shut down the subway system, and we don't anticipate doing that," Browne said.

At most, several sources said, there has been talk of subways skipping the 34th St. stop when President Bush is at the Garden, but that would be for a very short window of time.