Bush’s critics largely peaceful: Only 3 arrests made

Spokane won’t be remembered for something that went terribly wrong during a presidential visit.

Spokane Police Capt. Steve Braun said only three people were arrested Thursday out of the estimated 1,500 who gathered to either heckle, watch or support the visit by President George W. Bush.

“Everybody should be able to express their views,” Braun said. “Unfortunately, some don’t understand that there are rules.”

One 20-year-old man was arrested after he refused to go behind police tape. Two juveniles were arrested for assaulting officers, police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

“Mostly it was typical security-type things,” Braun said. “It went pretty well.”

The department used 60 officers. Most worked the day shift and stayed on to work the event, Braun said. The department’s contract obligates the city to pay at least four hours of overtime for officers who are called back to work. “We went a little over that,” Braun said.

Police Chief Roger Bragdon on Wednesday estimated it would cost the city between $6,000 and $8,000. However, the city won’t know the total cost until officers turn in their time cards next week, Braun said.

“These events are potentially troublesome,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of notice.”

Spokane County Sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said he didn’t know Friday how many deputies took part in the detail.

But during presidential visits, local law enforcement agencies take their orders from the Secret Service, Braun said.

“They kind of depend on local police agencies to back them up, and they rely on our manpower,” he said.

City officials are looking to cut $121 million from the general fund by next month. Bragdon said earlier this week that the cuts could mean that the department would lose 30 to 40 positions.

“We are taking a look at the overtime in the budget, trying to cut back wherever we can,” Braun said. “But you don’t want to cut corners on a presidential visit.”

If Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry visits Spokane, “it will be pretty much the same thing,” Braun said.

“People remember what happened in Dallas” in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, he said. “That’s not what we want Spokane remembered for.”