Nineteen months of security plans are about to be put to the test as Denver gears up for this week’s Democratic National Convention.”We’re ready,” Denver police Chief Gerry Whitman said Friday. For months police have resisted releasing any information about their security preparations, saying making them public could undermine their efforts.But with the opening of the convention Monday, Whitman laid out some of the details behind the planning that began when Denver was notified in January 2007 that it would host the DNC, in an interview with the Rocky Mountain News.Among the highlights:• 52 law-enforcement agencies will be involved, not counting the Secret Service, FBI and other federal agencies. Denver estimates its force of 1,500 will double for the convention.• Officers have undergone 114,000 hours of specific DNC training. That includes training on everything from how to use radios to crowd management, dignitary protection and bomb recognition. Officers received additional legal training on the First and Fourth amendments.Police brass have met with leaders for all but “a very few” protest groups that have obtained event permits for DNC week. Each group has been assigned a police liaison.”We want to support them and facilitate what they’re doing,” Whitman said, “but they have to do it lawfully.”Denver has invested more than $18 million to beef up equipment at the police, fire and sheriff’s departments for the DNC. An Emergency Management Center opened Friday, and a temporary arrestee-processing center opens today.During the convention, the police presence will be large and visible “to make sure the people who are visiting downtown feel safe,” Whitman said.Officers brought in from other jurisdictions will help with DNC security and answer patrol calls in other districts to free up Denver officers to work downtown. Officers on routine patrol will be paired with Denver officers.In his nine years as chief, Whitman said, “This is the most complex (event) with the most moving parts.”Ninety-six events are planned at 12 parks.

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