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Organizer seeks city approval for July 12 prayer walk; police, staff outline permit and safety steps
Summary
A resident asked the Rock Springs City Council on June 17 for approval to hold a prayer walk on July 12; the police chief and city staff advised submitting a route map and contact information, and warned of conflicts with International Day at Bunning Park and limited dedicated staffing.
A Rock Springs resident requested council approval on June 17 to hold a downtown prayer walk July 12, asking for limited police support and clarification about any required permits. City staff advised submitting a route map and contact information so staff can assist, and the police chief said patrol officers or a community service officer could be assigned but might be reallocated because Bunning Park would host a concurrent event.
The organizer said the walk would use sidewalks from Elk toward Dewar, would not close streets and would include speakers and music. ‘‘We're gonna be doing everything lawfully,’’ the organizer said, and asked for police presence "just to keep everybody safe."
Rock Springs Police Chief Urs Ballmer said he had no objection to the event and expected the department could ‘‘find, either community service officer or police officer to staff that,’’ while noting officers might be reassigned if other calls or staffing needs arose.
City staff and council members advised the organizer to provide a written route map and contact information to the city clerk or public‑works office so staff could identify potential conflicts and help arrange patrol coverage. Staff noted that Bunning Park was already reserved for International Day the same weekend, that the park and adjacent roads would be busy and that staging the event there might not be feasible.
The organizer agreed to adjust the planned endpoint after staff warned of the park reservation and said she would contact the newspaper and change promotional material. The organizer also provided event times to council: a council member read the times into the record as ‘‘09:00 in the morning till about noon.’’
No formal permit was approved on the record; council members and staff described the meeting as an initial request and asked the organizer to follow up with a route map and contact details so the city can process any required permits or coordinate patrols.
Council and staff emphasized safety and that police support would be provided as staffing allowed; staff offered to reach out after receiving contact information and a map so they could assist with any remaining logistical questions.
