National Guard Troops Coming To Chicago For NATO Summit
CHICAGO (CBS) -- National Guard troops will be dispatched to Chicago for the NATO summit next month.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bob Conway reports, guard officials say between 500 and 600 National Guard troops will be deployed as part of the summit support team.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bob Conway reports
Podcast
National Guard Major Tony Scott tells the Chicago Tribune that the guard troops, among other functions, will assist in transporting NATO delegates and their staff to various locations, primarily from downtown hotels to McCormick Place.
Guard troops will also be conducting a domestic response drill at an undisclosed location outside Cook County, available however in the event of any summit related trouble, the Tribune reported.
But Mayor Rahm Emanuel tells the Tribune he is confident Chicago Police will be able to handle any problems, as he has said before.
The National Guard was not involved in the Black Hawk and Little Bird OH-6 helicopter flights over downtown Chicago on Monday, the Tribune reported. The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications said the flyaround was part of routine training conducted by military personnel in cities across the country, and was not related to the NATO summit.
More helicopter flights are planned for Wednesday.
The summit is set for May 20.
