Oakland PD chief, mayor say tactics will change at future protests (re: Trayvon protests)
OAKLAND, Calif. —
Oakland police Chief Sean Whent and Mayor Jean Quan pledged Wednesday that police will change their tactics in future protests to try to prevent the acts of violence that occurred in protests on recent nights.
After meeting with business owners who expressed concern that the violence committed by some people who participated in protests against the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin shooting case in Florida will hurt their businesses, Whent said he will increase the number of officers who are available for future protests, including one that's planned for Saturday.
Speaking at a news conference on the steps of City Hall, Whent said, "We're taking the steps necessary to try to prevent these types of problems in the future."
He said one step will be to keep officers closer to demonstrators "so they're more visible and there's more of a police presence."
He said that in contrast to Monday night, when a protest spiraled out of control and demonstrators blocked a freeway, smashed store windows and engaged in other acts of violence, there were officers on duty Tuesday night and "we were more successful in preventing violence and crime."
http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/opd-chief-mayor-say-tactics-will-change-future-pro/nYtZ5/
