Pinellas, Pasco Deputies Will Help Provide Security At Richard Spencer’s UF Speech

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Local deputies will be in Gainesville to provide security for Thursday’s planned speech by white nationalist leader Richard Spencer. About 70 deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will be leaving for Gainesville Thursday morning. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said 63 deputies volunteered for the event.

The counties are responding to a mutual aid agreement through the Florida Sheriff's Association. Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell made the request. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office decided not to send any deputies after authorities in Gainesville determined they had enough officers.

Along with their patrol vehicles, Pasco deputies also brought a mobile Command Center. “Any additional details regarding security or special training would need to go through Alachua County Sheriff's Office as this is their jurisdiction and event,” the Pasco Sheriff’s Office said.

Watch: Florida Governor Prepares For Violence Before Richard Spencer Speech

Spencer is slated to speak at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Florida. Previous speeches in Alabama, California, Texas and Virginia have drawn protests and counter-protests, arrests and violence. Spencer's National Policy Institute, a white nationalist think tank that has drawn regular protests since it moved to Alexandria, Va., is giving away 800 free tickets at the event.

UF President Kent Fuchs said he expects more than 500 law-enforcement officers will be on campus Thursday. He estimated the cost of security at more than $600,000. He has encouraged students to stay away from Spencer’s event.

“I fully understand freedom of speech cannot be burdened legally with the full cost of this, but on the other hand we’re being burdened,” Fuchs told the Associated Press. “So taxpayers are subsidizing hate speech.”

About 3,000 people have indicated on Facebook they would attend a protest group called “No Nazis at UF.” Another 7,000 said they were "interested" in attending.

Spencer’s last major speaking event ended in bloodshed. He led a protest in August against Charlottesville’s decision to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Three people were killed in events related to the "Unite the Right" rally, including a counter-protester and two Virginia State Police troopers.

Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order on Monday declaring a “state of emergency” and pledging state assistance to quell any potential incidents that break out during the speech. The executive order activates Florida's mutual aid pack that allows the state to coordinate resources from the state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip