State To Send Troopers To Mass. For Convention

 By Noreen Gillespie Associated Press

HARTFORD – Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell will send 35 state troopers to Boston to assist with security for the Democratic National Convention, just a third of what Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had requested.

Rell, who took over as governor on July 1, said Tuesday that staffing levels prohibited her from sending the 100 troopers that Romney, a fellow Republican, had requested for the July 26-29 convention.

Connecticut is situated between the two convention sites – the Democrats meet in Boston later this month, while Republicans will congregate in New York in August. New York has not asked for security support from the state, although there is still time for a request, Rell said.

Rell had her first security briefing Tuesday from state homeland security, military, and medical experts.

Connecticut is not at a heightened state of security for either convention. But officials are taking seriously Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge’s warning that terrorists may be planning to attack the United States to disrupt the upcoming elections. Extensive security plans are in place for both conventions.

“Connecticut being between those two states is of great concern to us, and we want to be prepared,” Rell said.

The federal government has requested five people with medical training to assist Rhode Island’s disaster medical assistance team, Public Health Commissioner Robert J. Galvin said. The team will provide support for the Boston convention.

Galvin said the state also plans to station extra epidemiologists in southwestern Connecticut during the convention, particularly near the casinos. While the casinos are not considered a target, a number of people in Boston for the convention are likely to visit them, he said.

“We simply want to be prepared for any incident which may affect the people of Connecticut or our visitors,” he said.