Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006 | I was disappointed in the lack of coverage of the police officers march two weeks ago. I know that it was an oversight, because I know you guys and respect what you’re doing. Anyway, my beef with how that was handled by our department is why I am posting.
When a group in this city plans a protest/rally/march, they generally contact the police department and let them know how many, and what the route is. The police department provides units to escort them and ensure safe passage across intersections by blocking the street.
Tuesday, the police department sent a two man (because it had two men in it) unit to monitor the march. The guys work this division (my division) and came over to talk with us prior to the march. They advised me that they were to monitor the march all the way to city hall and then go 10-8 (resume patrol duties). It is my understanding that somewhere in the process my division was contacted by an assistant chief who directed the officers to maintain a spot at least one block behind the marchers and to render no assistance to the group in the form of escorting through intersections safely. Another supervisor at traffic division ordered his motor officers to go nowhere near our march route if they were working that day. Ironic, as motor units are usually charged with that duty for every other group that protests/marches. I have worked this division for 21 years and this is the first time I have seen this behavior. Our own cops left out to close streets without the escorts that are rightly provided for everyone else.
My question is why?