Although the city of Tampa has in place most of the security features needed to play host to the Republican National Convention this August, one item that has yet to be settled is an insurance policy.
Lawsuits regarding civil rights abuses conducted by law enforcement have resulted from every recent political convention in the U.S., and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and other city officials are well aware of that fact, as well as the promise made by former Mayor Pam Iorio that taxpayer funds would not be used in any way to bring the event to the Cigar City.
City officials now say they intend to use a portion of the $50 million of federal funds earmarked for security to pay for a police-liability policy.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2012.