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Caldwell police say recent protests were peaceful but warn of overtime costs; seek budget line for demonstrations
Summary
Police Chief reported two recent First Amendment demonstrations in Caldwell were peaceful with no arrests, but said overtime costs were significant and the department will seek a dedicated budget line to cover future demonstrations.
The Caldwell Police Chief briefed the City Council on two recent demonstrations, saying both events were peaceful, no arrests or uses of force occurred, and department tactics (bike patrols, undercover officers, and a real-time information center) helped manage crowds and identify two individuals who left without incident.
The chief emphasized operational costs: officers worked overtime to staff demonstrations on evenings and weekends, and the department will ask the council to create a dedicated line item in the police budget for future First Amendment events. He framed the request as a response to the unpredictable frequency of demonstrations and the expense of mobilizing staff.
Councilors asked whether permits are required for protests. The chief said peaceful assemblies do not require a permit under the U.S. Constitution; permits are required if a group intends to take over city streets or other public right-of-way that would disrupt traffic. Councilors thanked the department for facilitating safe events and noted the budget implications as the city enters budget season.
Next steps: the police department will return with a formal budget request and proposed line-item language for the council to consider in the budget process.
