August 26-30th 2012 the Republican National Convention was held in Tampa, Florida. The convention was designated as a "National Special Security Event"' which meant that ultimate authority over law enforcement went to the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security. The federal government provided $50 million for convention security. Much of the money went to deputizing additional police. Other expenses included expanded surveillance technology and an armored SWAT vehicle. Tampa Bay disclosed specifically that it had spent $1.18-M on video linkages between ground police and helicopters. The city paid $16,500. to the Florida State Fairgrounds Authority in exchange for police use of local fairgrounds as a command center.

The Tampa Bay times reported that undercover officers infiltrated and took over some protest groups. "They were aware of plans that were afoot to do mischief", Tampa police Maj. Marc Hamlin said of the undercover officers, who came from a variety of agencies.

The undercover intelligence, he said, was "at the highest level of importance" for an RNC that had no violent clashes, little property damage and fewer arrest than are typically made in the fourth quarter of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game.