Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney On The 2016 Democratic National Convention In Philly

Steve Tawa at cbslocal.com in Philadelphia interviewed former Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney about the upcoming DNC in 2016 in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Security was one of three main selling points, other than logistics and financing, in Philadelphia’s successful bid to land the Democratic National Convention in July of 2016.

During the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, more than 400 arrests were made, most of which happened the second night of the event, when protesters ran through city streets.
“But by and large, the demonstrations were peaceful.”

While we deal with wicked cold temperatures, former Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney spoke with us while putting up with a sand storm, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where he is consulting these days on police training.

“Except for 1968 in Chicago, the Democratic conventions appear to draw less venomous protesters than do the Republican conventions. The RNC, which is being held in Cleveland, will have its own problems.”

Obviously, the 2000 RNC in Philly was pre-9/11.

“Terrorism becomes a critical factor as you plan for these events. It’s an opportunity for some lone wolf or terrorist cell to exploit the publicity that a political convention brings to the table.”

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/02/14/former-philly-police-commissioner-shares-his-thoughts-on-how-police-will-handle-dnc/

You can also read my Counterterrorism magazine interview with John Timoney via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2010/08/interview-with-americas-top-cop-q-with.html

And you can read my Crime Beat column on Timoney via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2010/06/on-crime-thrillers-tale-of-crime.html  

Welcome To Philly, Democrats. A Local's Dos And Don'ts For The Democrats Coming To Philadelphia In 2016

In light of the news that Philadelphia was selected to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Buzz Bissinger offers an amusing piece on the city at politico.com.

So Philadelphia is getting the Democratic National Convention in 2016… Given the competition—gentrified, Disney-fied, richified New York, where residents now only answer to the name of their shell corporation, and Columbus (why even consider a city in North Dakota??)—Philadelphia was a no-brainer.

 

As someone who spent the five longest years of anyone’s natural life writing a book about the city and its then-Mayor Ed Rendell, a few dos and don’ts to make the convention experience special.

... DON’T come near a cheesesteak. They are gnarly and fundamentally deranged in conception. Until you eat one. Then they are almost worth the guilt you will inevitably feel because you just ate one and likely ingested fifty or sixty thousand calories. Instead satisfy your cravings in what is America's most interesting and diverse culinary city. Try one of the many BYOBs. They are small and intimate and the food stunning and the cost reasonable.

... DO drive on the Schuylkill Expressway one night to see the twinkling lights of Boathouse Row against the backdrop of the art museum and the Fairmount Water Works and the city skyline. It is the single most spectacular view in the city. Then be prepared to die since the expressway is the worst engineered highway in history (for a real death thrill, take the South Street exit heading east and try to merge).

... DON'T refer to Philadelphia as “The City of Brotherly Love.” It’s tired and worn out and has never been remotely true. Philadelphians take great pride in their city. They are open and friendly, as long as you don’t mess with them. Same with the Eagles’ fans who once threw snowballs at a fan dressed as Santa Claus. It happened almost fifty years ago. It is also not at all representative of Eagles fans, except for the ten thousand or so still in jail for various unspeakable offenses. So don’t bring it up.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/02/democratic-convention-philadelphia-2016-115164.html#.VN7qD8t0yM9

Note: As a lifelong South Philadelphian - the main arena will be the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly, near the sports stadiums - I'm pleased for the city.