STOCKTON
- Tuesday's anti-police brutality protest in downtown Stockton forced the
city's Police Department to essentially declare a state of emergency and cost
taxpayers $12,000 in police overtime wages.
For
the first time in more than 15 years, police declared a "condition
red" - meaning any call that wasn't an in-progress act of violence or
life-threatening emergency went unanswered.
"It
is relatively unheard of," said Eric Jones, chief of the Stockton Police
Department. "In my tenure, I don't recall going to 'condition red'
before."
The
overtime was paid out to about 45 off-duty officers who were called in to
preserve order during a rally protesting the Stockton Police Department's role
in recent officer-involved shootings. On-duty officers who stayed past the end
of their shifts for the demonstration also earned extra pay, Jones said.
In
total, 167 members of the city's police force responded to the four-hour
protest that resulted in one arrest and no injuries, he said.
City
Hall was locked down during the rally, and the start of Tuesday's City Council
meeting was delayed by 30 minutes. A portion of El Dorado Street was closed for
several hours, and two exits were closed on the Crosstown Freeway to prevent
more traffic from congesting downtown.
A
police cruiser was vandalized with permanent marker and dented, Jones said, but
no other property damage has been reported. Video captured by Record
photographers showed protesters kicking the truck of a passing motorist, but no
one has come forward to file a report, he said.
The
department fully supports the public's right to peacefully assemble and engage
in its right to free speech, Jones said, but the chief requested that
demonstrators remain respectful.
"When
it becomes violent or vandalism is involved, that's unacceptable," he
said.
Police
also requested community groups who plan a protest to inform the city about
their plans so the public isn't put at risk.
In
addition to the $12,000 in tangible overtime costs, Jones said Tuesday's rally
cost the city an indeterminable amount, because local businesses were forced to
close in the middle of the day and because of unanswered calls for service