Cleveland's police chief says there's "no such thing as riot gear" for officers patrolling outside the Republican National Convention.
At a news conference Monday, Police Chief Calvin Williams dismissed rumors that riot gear-clad officers were on bike patrol at an anti-Donald Trump protest,
Cleveland.com reports.
He said officers wore padded Motocross bike-style gear they'd been using on a different detail when they were called in to help with the protest.
"Just to be clear, there is no such thing as riot gear. The city of Cleveland does not have riot gear," Williams declared.
According to Cleveland.com, the padded gear was purchased in preparation for the GOP convention. Williams said "personal protective equipment" is meant to be a defensive tool, not an offensive tool against demonstrators.
In March, the city of Cleveland sought to purchase 2,000 sets of riot-control suits and batons with part of the $50 million federal security grant used to prepare for the RNC, Cleveland.com reports.
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