Minneapolis is host to nearly 20,000 police chiefs from more than 100 countries for the 109th annual conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. This is the second time Minneapolis has hosted the event, and organizers say this will be the largest police chief's convention ever. The conference focus is on how to better apply technology to fight crime and combat terrorism.

	The entire main floor exhibition hall is filled with vendors selling equipment and services used by law enforcement agencies -- from bulletproof vests to guns, uniforms, helicopters, even the flashing lights that sit atop police cars. See more images. (MPR Photo/Brandt Williams)

"Son I'm not going to tell you again!"

"I'm going to kill him man, I can do it!"

No you're not - I want you down on the floor!"

"I aint gettin' down!"

"Get on the floor!"

A young hoodlum has beaten another young man unconscious in a school hallway. He is nervous and confrontational as a police officer tries to control the situation.

"Let me see your hands!"

"No way!"

"Keep your hands where I can see them. Don't move. Stop! Stop!"

The boy pulled a gun, but before he can fire, the officer has wounded him and he falls to the floor.

The boy is actually a projected image on a screen located at one end of a darkened enclosure about the size of a game booth you'd find on the midway at the state fair. In the role of the officer is Jimmie McCoy of Firearms Training Systems Inc., one of 700 exhibitors at this year's conference. Police departments use simulators like these to recreate situations where lethal force may be necessary.

The convention center is abuzz with hundreds of workers and exhibitors putting together their booths. The entire main floor exhibition hall is filled with vendors selling equipment and services used by law enforcement agencies -- from bulletproof vests to guns, uniforms, helicopters, even the flashing lights that sit atop police cars.

"We're the only company that has a patent on rotators," says Pat Cunningham, who works for the company that manufactures light bars. "And with other manufacturers, the rotator makes a noise -- a grinding sound -- and ours are very quiet. That's impressive to police officers because that way they can hear themselves on the radio when that light bar is going and that's always a concern."

Besides buying high-tech gadgets, participants at this year's conference will attend anti-terrorism workshops and they will hear from the United States' highest-ranking law enforcement officer, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. However, for security reasons convention organizers don't know exactly when he will arrive.

Not only are law enforcement officials cautious about terrorist threats, they are concerned that Ashcroft's appearance could attract violent protests.

	Minneapolis police inspector Lucy Gerold, who is leading the local coordination of the convention, said she's concerned about possible threats to Attorney General John Ashcroft. (MPR Photo/Brandt Williams)

"Based on the information we have about what protesters have suggested they might do, we felt the need to have the building as secure as it is," says Minneapolis police inspector Lucy Gerold, who is leading the local coordination of the convention.

Gerold was not specific about the threats, and said the police's information was based on information found on Web sites of protest groups.

As a precaution the street which passes right in front of the convention center will be closed. She says protestors are welcome to express their views outside on the grassy field right across the street from the Convention Center.

Inside the convention center, it's wall-to-wall with uniformed officers. However, Gerold says security is just as tight.

"This is the first year that photo IDs are required for delegates, vendors, exhibitors and personnel working in any capacity in the convention center," she says.

She says because of 9/11 terrorist attacks, background checks will also be required on all the 300 volunteers helping out at the conference. Gerold says background checks will not be necessary for sworn police officers.

More than 200 Minneapolis police officers are expected to attend the conference. However Gerold says there will be more than enough officers at working trying to keep the streets of Minneapolis safe.