Washblog

I knew there were police departments that handled far bigger rallies with far more troublesome people an handled them far better. Who better to talk to, I reasoned, than the police chief of Sturgis, South Dakota, upon which nearly a half-million bikers descend each year?

Chief Jim Bush is a direct and plain-spoken person who is sensible and open to questions. I asked him about his methods for dealing with crowds. He outlined an approach that was essentially opposite in every important respect from the way the Seattle police dealt handled WTO.

He refused to critique Seattle police directly as I knew he would, saying only that he wished he had as many officers as they had for such a relatively small crowd as we had during the WTO. Instead, we discussed specific policing techniques. When I asked him if he put the police under his command in armor or riot gear, he scoffed. He didn't even allow them to wear their usual uniforms, badges and decorations. He wanted them "low key" in "summer" uniforms his department had come up with for the rally that were more like bicycle cop or security guard garb.

When I asked him if he set up security cordons, he scoffed again, saying that he asked his officers to interact with people in the crowds, making friends and constantly gathering a sense of what was going on.

When I asked him whether he felt it was too dangerous to send officers into the crowd in the event of an incident (as you'll remember Norm Stamper did during WTO and Kerlikowske did during Mardi Gras) Bush said to the contrary he had his officers move in as quickly and quietly as possible at the very first sign of a disturbance.

When I asked him whether he felt it was necessary to keep troublemaking groups away from his town's big event he started to realize that he must be criticizing the Seattle police de facto. It was clear from  my questions that they were not using his good sense tactics.

He said "well, we don't have anybody coming here deliberately to make trouble."

I said "Really? Not even the one-percenter motorcycle clubs like the Angels, Pagans, Outlaws  and Bandidos?"

He realized that these organizations were just a wee bit more threatening than a few kids from Eugene dressed in black. He said "well, we talk to those guys and make it clear we won't tolerate any trouble."

"Talk to those guys" - that was his very effective approach to handling groups of men so dangerous the FBI considers them organized crime syndicates.

But Chief Bush did get tough with the bikers in one way - "Weapons - we don't allow 'em during the Rally. If we see a guy with a weapon, we will take him in. If we get word one of these fellas might be coming in with a weapon, we might turn his whole group back before they get into town."

Well, apparently a Seattle police officer thought he knew better how to defend his fellow citizens at the "Loud American Roadhouse" in Sturgis. Apparently the Seattle police have once again failed to show good judgment and professional conduct.

Oh, with, of course, the help of the President and Republican Congress who gave us, in 2004, H.R. 218, the "Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act" which exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State laws that prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms.

Including, it seems, when they are acting in their capacity as drunk bikers. But do expect this officer to get some sort of award from his union - or the local Bandidos chapter, or maybe both.