Retired top cop tapped for Obama rally

CHICAGO, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The city of Chicago's retired top police expert on handling major events says he has been hired to plan for Barack Obama's Election Night rally in Grant Park.

Former Chicago Police district commander Neil Sullivan, who three years ago rewrote the city's disaster and evacuation plans, will coordinate security efforts for the Nov. 4 outdoor rally for Obama, the Democratic U.S. presidential nominee and U.S. senator from Illinois, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

Sullivan told the newspaper it was "not a state secret" that he would be in charge of the event, but refused to talk about plans that include ordering of off-duty firefighters and paramedics to take all of their gear home with them in case of an emergency at the rally.

Ray Orozco, executive director of the city's office of emergency management and communications, told the Sun-Times Sullivan was originally hired to handle possible baseball fan celebrations had the Chicago Cubs and White Sox made it to the World Series.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has said the Election Night rally will cost the city $2 million. The Obama campaign has agreed to cover all of the costs, he said.