RNC threatens opening of high school football season

By ROB SHAW | The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 15, 2012
Updated: June 15, 2012 - 7:18 AM

TAMPA --

The opening Friday of?high school football season in Hillsborough County could be in jeopardy during the week of the Republican National Convention.

The same is true for any?fall sports events ? swimming, volleyball, cross country and golf ? scheduled?the week of Aug.?27.

That's because officials with the Hillsborough County school district are concerned about traffic and whether enough law enforcement officers will be available to provide security for the sporting events.

Some of the football games scheduled for Aug.?31 include Robinson at Jefferson, Blake at Leto and Brandon at Armwood.

"We are working with law enforcement to see if we need to postpone, reschedule or what," said Stephen Hegarty, spokesman for the school district. "It is quite possible it will be a completely different schedule."

So many Tampa police officers and Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies will be working during the convention, from Aug.?27 to 30, there may not enough of them available to work the athletic events.

Even on Aug.?31, the Friday after the convention ends, the officers and deputies who typically work football games may be too tired to pull extra duty.

"That's why this is such a challenge," Hegarty said. "I don't know what Friday is going to look like, and that is when we do football games."

The transportation issues revolve around teams located outside the downtown area that playing teams closer to the area where the convention will have a big impact.

Andrea Davis, spokeswoman for Tampa police, said the department has offered the district use of its school resource officers to work athletic events.

The department will have one officer at each middle school and each high school during the day ? even during the convention. Those officers, Davis said, could also staff any athletic events planned for the school.

But that may not be enough.

The number of officers assigned to a game depends on the magnitude of the rivalry and expected attendance. The need could range from as few as two officers to as many as eight, police said.

Off-duty law enforcement officers work football and volleyball games in the fall. Occasionally, they are hired for swim meets, too.

The first day of the school year is Aug. 21, the week before the convention.

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