WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- With many special events, Halloween and Election Day approaching, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is increasing police presence around the District.  “I want to assure you that the Metropolitan Police Department and all of the D.C. government agencies continue to prepare for these events,” said MPD chief Pamela Smith during a press conference on Tuesday. Nearly 40,000 attendees are expected to be at the National Mall Tuesday night as Vice President Kamala Harris delivers her “closing arguments” for her presidential campaign. MPD is partnering with the United States Secret Service and National Park Service, who are leading safety measures.  37th Annual High Heel Race coming to Northwest DC, preps underway “We are opening the Metropolitan Police Department Joint Operation Command Center to be able to work side by side with our local, state and federal partners. Our Special Operations Division will be coordinating additional platoons of officers that will be highly visible around the Ellipse,” Smith said. Also happening Tuesday night is the 37th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race. Nearly 10,000 people will be in attendance as costumed drag kings, drag queens and community members as they race in their heels down 17th Street in Northwest. The event is hosted by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs to celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ community. “You will see a visible presence of police officers in that area in and around the Ellipse, as well as the Washington Monument grounds. We will have our civil disturbance unit deployed in those areas as well, and most of those officers will also be visible in the area,” said Smith.  Increased police presence will continue into Election Day. Smith says the department has not received any threats regarding any events but is prepared just in case.  “The Metropolitan Police Department supports individual peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights. But I want to be very clear. We will not tolerate any violence of any kind. We will not tolerate any riots. We will not tolerate the destruction of property. We will not tolerate any unlawful behavior. Offenders will be arrested and will be held accountable,” she said.  40,000 now expected to attend Kamala Harris speech at Ellipse in DC, according to approved permit Despite no threats to the D.C. area, Smith said the department is working closely with the DC Board of Elections amid ballot boxes being set on fire in other areas of the country. “We will pay special attention to ballot box drop-off locations and our polling places. We are aware of the incidents across the country where ballot boxes have been tampered with, and we will not stand for any instance of voter intimidation, of disruption in this electoral process,” she said.  Smith also asks the public to be vigilant and speak up if anything happens.