Milwaukee Police Department approved to purchase $1.3M mobile command post for RNC

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Common Council has approved a $1.3 million purchase for the Milwaukee Police Department. This is all to help with safety for this summer's Republican National Convention (RNC).

The $1.3 million purchase will bring in a new mobile command post to replace the current one which Milwaukee police say is, "grossly outdated."

MPD made the pitch to the common council Wednesday morning. They said a mobile command post is a vital tool for responding to critical incidents.

It’s a space where commanders can meet and have access to technology and video footage as well as a place to convene right on scene.

Milwaukee police said their current vehicle has outlived its lifespan by seven years and this tool will help beyond the RNC.

"We feel that it's a viable piece of equipment that other cities have had. In some cases, other cities have had operable units so they wouldn't have had to request one," said Laura Engan, budget and administration manager for the Milwaukee Police Department.

Others, like Milwaukee Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, are worried things are being funded too quickly.

"I did object to that and I had a lot of questions," said Ald. Dimitrijevic. "One of them being, 'Will we even get the money back from the grants we've been promised to reimburse ourselves for the purchase?'" 

Milwaukee police said they would request the money from the RNC grant fund which has yet to be finalized by Congress.