(Oakland, CA) OPD shifts to 'smaller scale' tactics for Occupy [View all]
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Facing criticism from a federal court monitor for using "military-type" tactics against Occupy activists, Oakland police changed their strategy during Tuesday's May Day protests - swooping in on individual suspects instead of making mass arrests, keeping their beanbag guns holstered and using tear gas sparingly.
"This was our attempt to handle things on a smaller scale, in hopes of facilitating the majority's freedom to assemble," said Sgt. Christopher Bolton, chief of staff to Police Chief Howard Jordan.
On some levels, the effort appeared to succeed - 39 people were arrested, compared with more than 400 during a January protest, and vandalism was not as widespread as in other large Occupy actions.
Some critics, though, said the effort fell short, and that police had provoked protesters.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/02/BAJO1OC8TP.DTL
Also: "Judge losing patience with OPD's Occupy probes"
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