Chicago Police will get security help from the state of Illinois and cities across the country during this weekend's NATO Summit.
In addition to about 3,100 Chicago Police officers assigned to the summit, hundreds from Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC., will help police protesters, Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Melissa Stratton told NBCChicago.
She couldn't confirm the exact number of officers traveling here, but the Chicago Sun-Times reports Milwaukee plans to send about 100 and Philadelphia will send 68.
Stratton said Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies across the state also will be here to provide support in the field, such as assisting motorcades from O’Hare Airport into the city.
All officers will work under the Chicago Police Department, she said.
Chicago Police sent officers to Pittsburgh for the G-20 in 2009 to provide similar support.
Protests already have begun ahead of the big weekend meeting. On Monday, eight protesters were arrested inside the building housing President Barack Obama's campaign headquarters.
On Tuesday, an immigration rights march organized by Occupy Chicago steps off at 11 a.m. from 525 W. Van Buren and an anti-war rally takes place in Federal Plaza.
