Region's police: Ready for potential protests

After George Floyd was killed last week in Minneapolis police custody, resulting in riots across the U.S., Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White and two of his officers met with members of his department.

It was a session that culminated in an observance.

“We won’t have an issue like that in Coeur d’Alene,” White said. “We had those conversations to make sure we treat all (people) with dignity and respect.”

Conversely, in the wake of protests in Spokane over the weekend as a result of Floyd’s death, the department is preparing for the worst.

“We don’t condone the violence associated with these protests,” White said.

Floyd was an African American who was arrested by Minneapolis police last week for allegedly passing a false check and resisting arrest. In a widely publicized video, Minneapolis police were shown kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he was detained in handcuffs on the ground. Floyd died in police custody.

Social media this week has been predicting protests similar to Spokane’s to hit the Lake City, possibly by midweek.

In the event a similar incident takes place from Post Falls to Coeur d’Alene and adjacent communities, Lt. Stu Miller at the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said his department along with the rest of law enforcement in the area met Monday to hammer out logistics.

“After what happened in Spokane last night, we don’t want to be hanging out,” Miller said Monday.

Law enforcement is also monitoring social media sites to get a handle on when, or if, protesters can be expected in Coeur d’Alene.

“We would pool resources,” Miller said.

The First District courthouse is among entities preparing for the worst, sources said. The district’s 13 bailiffs will show up in force this week to monitor courthouse grounds, escort personnel and secure the buildings, administrator Karlene Behringer said.

“We’ll have a full bailiff staff and security working,” Behringer said.

Behringer said protesters are expected to visit Coeur d’Alene Wednesday, although mixed accounts are calling for possibly another wave on Thursday.

“Local law enforcement will have a presence here,” she said.

White said his department has a good relationship with the community and has reached out to the people who have called for local protests in Coeur d’Alene to apprise them that peaceful protests are often hijacked by outside influences.

“The (police department) absolutely respects an individual or group’s right to peacefully assemble and protest. However, we do not condone any acts of violence, arson, or damage to property,” White said. “One of the major issues we deal with is when a person or group begins a peaceful protest that is taken over by a violent individual or group of individuals...”

Assemblies often begin with good intentions, he said, “But quickly turn ugly when outside influences intervene.”