In D.C., Ferguson-inspired protests cost police $3 million

By Andrea Noble - The Washington Times - Sunday, December 28, 2014

The District has spent about $3 million on police staffing and response to a series of impromptu demonstrations that began nearly a month ago inspired by protests in Ferguson, Missouri.

Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier previously called the protests, which have included both small demonstrations and a march led by the Rev. Al Sharpton that drew thousands, a “big strain” on her department. But the agency disclosed for the first time last week the cost associated with deploying officers to the marches, which have required an additional 300 to 400 officers daily in anticipation for the often-spontaneous demonstrations.

Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said in an email response to questions that the costs were approximately $3 million. No breakdown of the expenses was provided.

City taxpayers may not have to bear the brunt of the expense alone, though, as officials may request reimbursement from the federal government to cover some of the associated costs, according to police union Chairman Delroy Burton.

Mr. Burton said city officials have discussed the possibility of requesting reimbursement for some of the costs from the federal government.

The District previously sought reimbursement for police expenses associated with the Occupy D.C. protests. The costs associated with the District’s policing of McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza, two federally maintained parks in the District where protesters were encamped, was estimated to be $1.6 million over a three-month period.

A spokeswoman for D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray did not respond to questions last week about whether the city was requesting reimbursement or whether it had received the reimbursement requested from the federal government for the Occupy D.C. protests.

Protests against excessive use of force by police officers erupted nationwide in November after a grand jury decided not to indict a white Ferguson police officer in the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in August. In the District, protesters launched near-daily marches, holding “die-ins” outside government offices as well as unannounced and often random demonstrations that stop traffic on city streets.

Up to 400 extra officers a day have been needed to help monitor the protests in the District and aid in the redirecting of traffic when protesters block streets, Chief Lanier said.

“It’s very, very expensive and it’s getting to be a big strain on my police department and it’s getting to be a big strain on our ability to contain and police the neighborhoods,” she said in an interview on NewsChannel 8’s “NewsTalk” earlier this month.

Mr. Burton said that, in addition to being a strain on the city’s pocketbook, it’s also affecting the officers whose shifts are being changed or extended in order to cover the extra on-call shifts.

“Recovering the finances is one thing, but the continued altering of these schedules so people can respond to the protests is really stressful,” Mr. Burton said. “Because this is spontaneous, there is no way to prepare for this.”

The police department has been extending some officers’ shifts from eight hours to 12 hours, as well as rearranging days off so officers can staff civil disturbance units deployed to protests, Mr. Burton said. If demonstrations do not occur on days that extra officers are on duty, the officers help patrol city streets instead.

Protests have tapered off in recent weeks, with Mr. Sharpton’s “Justice for All” march being the last large-scale demonstration. But it remains to be seen whether two police-involved shootings in the District on Christmas Eve will reignite events.

Mr. Burton said the union has been given no clear timeline from Chief Lanier as to how long the extra deployments of officers will last.

“It seems like it’s on indefinite footing as long as this is a hot issue,” Mr. Burton said.

• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.