Cape police chief: presidential visit security 'very daunting'

Cape Girardeau police will be �beyond stretched� Thursday when President Donald Trump comes to town, police chief Wes Blair said Monday.

The entire 80-officer force will be on duty, Blair said.

Officers will be involved in everything from motorcade security to security at the Show Me Center, Blair said.

The Trump rally will be held at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than originally scheduled. Doors will open at 3 p.m. instead of 4 p.m., as originally planned.

The Trump campaign announced the time change in emails to ticket holders Monday morning. No reason was given for the scheduling change.

In addition to Cape Girardeau police, law enforcement officers also will be called in from nearly a dozen other agencies to help with security for the president.

They include the Missouri State Highway Patrol; police departments in Jackson, Scott City, Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Charleston and Perryville; sheriff�s departments in Cape Girardeau, Scott and Perry counties; and the university�s department of public safety, Blair said.

The U.S. Secret Service has a task to protect the president, but Blair said much of the security for a presidential visit rests with local law enforcement agencies.

In addition to the Trump visit, Cape Girardeau officers also are involved with policing the SEMO District Fair this week and normal patrolling throughout the city, Blair said.

He said it�s a �very daunting� to plan security for a presidential visit with only a week�s notice.

Blair said his department learned of the visit at noon last Thursday. Security planning involving his department has been underway ever since, he said.

Trump�s visit is expected to draw protesters, adding to the security task, Blair said.

�I would rather work a natural disaster,� he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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