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No major problems at Ryan rally: Police

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Paul Ryan send-off rally

A send-off rally for Paul Ryan was held Monday at Janesville Craig High School. Ryan is heading to the Republican national convention in Florida as the presumptive vice-presidential candidate.

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Brian Donohoue

JANESVILLE — The crowd was a little smaller than anticipated, and operations ran smoothly Monday morning for the police officers who worked a send-off rally for vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan of Janesville.

"It went very, very smoothly," Sgt. Brian Donohoue of the Janesville Police Department said late Monday afternoon. "The weather was good. Everything went as planned."

Between 50 and 60 officers worked the event at Craig High School, Ryan's alma mater.

That does not include a number of U.S. Secret Service agents who were working inside and outside Craig High School, Donohoue said.

Officers from Beloit and Janesville police departments and the Rock County Sheriff's Office were on campus and in the neighborhood to direct vehicle traffic and foot traffic.

Officers maintained space between rally attendees and about 30 protesters who chanted and waved signs on the north side of the school campus.

Randall Avenue between Ruger Avenue and Racine Street was closed after 8 a.m. Police directed drivers to park on nearby residential streets and walk to the rally. A shuttle was available from the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds for people who preferred to park and ride.

Police made no arrests during or after the rally, although one woman who shouted during Ryan's speech was escorted from the gymnasium, Donohoue said.

Donohoue estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people were at the school Monday morning.

"The count was a little lower than anticipated," he said.

Donohoue's estimate is a generous one that includes media, security, politicians and other officials, he said.