In response to inquiries from local media, Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel provided an explanation for the decision to equip officers with helmets, shields and batons during Sunday’s march through the streets of Davis to protest last week’s police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Some have criticized that decision, calling it unnecessary for a peaceful protest and inconsistent with a statement issued earlier in the day by city leaders — including Pytel — denouncing Floyd’s treatment and expressing a commitment to community, friendship and building “lasting trust.”
Pytel said a number of factors played into the deployment of protective gear. Here is his statement:
“On Saturday morning we were contacted and told that there would be a march from campus to Central Park on Saturday evening. Later, the organizer called us directly to let us know about the event. He added that they were planning on marching around the downtown. We agreed to provide an escort so that it could be accomplished safely.
“A few hours later we provided mutual aid to West Sacramento because protestors there were trying to enter the freeways (I-5 and I-80) and they needed assistance. By this time some of the protests were splintering in Sacramento. Some were peaceful and some weren’t. Sacramento had also placed us on standby along with other Yolo agencies. Because frozen water bottles and other objects such as hard glass and Molotov cocktails were being thrown at law enforcement in Sacramento, we did have officers in protective gear and staged for our march on Saturday should they be needed (our officers on Saturday and Sunday personally witnessed this along with fires being set).
“Fortunately, the march never went towards the freeway on Saturday and the staged officers were not needed. After the Saturday march we were told there would be another march on Sunday evening. We did send officers that were in protective gear on Saturday to Sacramento and they were placed in areas where violence and looting were occurring. None of our personnel were injured or used force. We, of course, wanted our officers to wear full protective gear because of the environment they faced.
“Early Sunday morning, we received additional information regarding the Sunday afternoon march, including a flyer that referenced Target and pharmacies with a money bag. We were also receiving information regarding wide spread looting in other cities in this area. We were also placed on standby for Sacramento CHP and Sacramento PD because of the continuing issues there. The Sunday organizers did not contact us. We did have officers staged in various areas because of the same concerns we had on Saturday.
“When the march started, we provided an escort like we normally do. As in the past, we facilitate marches, demonstrations and protests, even if they block traffic. We do not allow protests to enter the freeways because of the extreme danger when that happens. This has always been the case. We didn’t set the course for the march; they chose where to go. When they started to turn to Richards Boulevard, we activated the officers on Olive Drive to stop them from going to the freeway. They made it around by using the bike path on the west side of Olive so the line was actually at the onramp at the overpass.
“Although many involved looked to be students, there were several in the crowd that seemed to want to agitate them. Officers wore protective gear and equipment because it only takes one person to throw an object that can create injury and a cascading series of events that may lead to force when it isn’t otherwise needed. When that starts, there is no time to retreat and put on gear that takes a long time to put on. The wearing of protective gear is cautionary and a safe practice when creating a hard line that can’t be crossed.
“The march remained peaceful; they were able to remain in the roadway and it went off without incident. When protesters left, we again provided escort so that they could use the streets to march. Unfortunately, they used Pole Line Road to make their way back to the onramps at Richards. We again placed officers at the onramps. The situation was resolved not long after that because we reached an agreement with the protesters that they wanted to just use the overpass to make their way back to downtown and disperse. They were allowed to do that and again, this went off without incident.
We did send the same officers that were in protective gear to Sacramento. They were again placed on looting duty and were dealing with violence. Again, none of our officers were injured or used force.”