Up to 500 Illinois State Police are expected to assist the Chicago Police Department with handling protesters during the NATO summit. These 500 State Troopers will account for 40% of the entire Illinois State Police force. The Illinois State Police, however, has not confirmed what the exact number of State Troopers would be helping with the summit. In a statement from a Chicago Police Department spokesperson, Melissa Stratton, she said that “Illinois State Police is assisting with motorcade support and supplying a number of Mobile Field Force personnel”.
Melissa Stratton has also mentioned that the Rosemont Police Department will be assisting with activities at O’Hare Airport.
The National Guard announced this week that they will be providing 600 of its troops to assist during the summit. Additionally, they have scheduled an emergency response drill outside Chicago that weekend in case more troops need to be summoned.
For the full article from the Chicago Sun-Times, please click here.