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Understaffed police department faces potential RNC, official says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An announcement could be made Wednesday if Charlotte will be named the host city of the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Eyewitness News anchor Erica Bryant talked to officials with the local Fraternal Order of Police lodge who said officers are not looking forward to it.

Leaders meet in Austin, Texas, to decide location of Republican National Convention

"The overwhelming response was officers are not happy,” FOP President Mark Michalec said.

Michalec said at Tuesday night’s monthly meeting that the City Council's vote for Charlotte to host the RNC was not good news.

“We understand we have a job to do,” he said. “We're professionals. We will do what we need to do, but it will be a tremendous strain.”

Charlotte leaders vote 6-5 to endorse hosting RNC in 2020

In contrast to the Democratic National Convention that was held in Charlotte in 2012, law enforcement expects the RNC to bring more protesters.

Right now, the department is understaffed – short 150 to 200 officers, he said.

Recruitment is down as more personnel are retiring.

They also did not get as much of a pay raise as they requested.

“Quite honestly, it left a negative taste -- what we were asking for and what we were given,” Michalec said.

He said those who were most invested in the department were the ones left out.

“A lot of senior officers are pretty upset about that,” Michalec said. “We will still keep on City Council to get the word out there for the senior officers.”

Regardless, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department intends to keep the Queen City safe.

“I don't have any apprehension about officers being able to do their job,” Michalec said. “We know how to do it. It will just be on a larger scale this time.”

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