Kevin Johnson, and Trevor Hughes

USA TODAY

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association is asking the governor to suspend state law allowing the open carry of firearms for the duration of Republican National Convention.

Alarmed by the succession of deadly police shootings, including Sunday's deaths in Baton Rouge, police union president Steve Loomis said he is appealing to the governor to declare an emergency. He said the state's open-carry law is making the job of securing the convention "much more difficult."

"Somebody's got to do something," Loomis said Sunday. "What we have now is completely irresponsible."

Gov. John Kasich does not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws, spokeswoman Emmalee Kalmbach said.

Under Ohio law, legal gun owners can carry firearms in plain sight. So while authorities have banned such items as tennis balls and large backpacks in the event zone during the convention, gun owners are permitted to carry and display weapons.

"Law enforcement is a noble, essential calling, and we all grieve that we've again seen attacks on officers," a statement from Kalmbach said. "The bonds between our communities and police must be reset and rebuilt — as we're doing in Ohio — so our communities and officers can both be safe. Everyone has an important role to play in that renewal."

At a press briefing earlier Sunday, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said police would not impede people's Second Amendment rights, citing state law, but said gun owners are expected to be responsible. The chief also noted in a briefing last week that officers have experience securing local gun rights rallies where armed residents have gathered in the downtown Public Plaza.

Cleveland police: No arrests ahead of GOP convention

A rumored open-carry rally at that plaza Sunday hadn't materialized as of 2 p.m., although an unusually heavy police presence suggested authorities shared those concerns.

More than 20 officers stood watch around the plaza as children played in a fountain and the Counting Crows blared from a nearby cafe.

In a video posted to his official Twitter account Sunday afternoon, Kasich said he'd just spoken with the Ohio Highway Patrol to tell them how much their service is appreciated when he learned of the shootings in Baton Rouge that killed three police officers and wounded three others.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the families," he said. "And let's be clear: These kinds of vicious attacks on police officers will only serve to drive a wedge and destroy the very fabric of our society."

Chrissie Thompson of the Cincinnati Enquirer contributed to this story.