Police: protesters helpful, respectful

Police riot gear, including plexiglass shields, sat propped against a wall inside the well-guarded Costa Mesa Police station Saturday ? ready for action at a moment’s notice.

But Costa Mesa Police, which anticipated large numbers at Saturday’s anti-immigration reform protest, left the riot gear untouched. The peaceful rally, which drew an estimated 1,000 people to the city grounds, came and went without any incidents that compromised public safety, officials said.

“They don’t want any trouble,” Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley said of the protesters. “They want to get their message out, so they’ve been very helpful to us in planning their event.”

Before Saturday’s rally, police didn’t know how many people would attend; they heard estimates from 500 to 30,000 marchers. Equipped with available SWAT resources and mutual aid from nearby law enforcement agencies, Costa Mesa Police were ready for whatever happened.

“It’s not really as many as we thought,” said Costa Mesa Sgt. Mike Ginther.

The rain showers that blanketed the area Saturday morning may have kept some protesters at home, Ginther added.

Before the crowds starting arriving just before 10 a.m., police had the area well-secured. Yellow tape and plastic fencing blocked off public access to the police station and City Hall entrance. Police officers were stationed every few feet on the perimeter of the taped-off area.

The street in front of City Hall, Fair Drive, was closed off between Fairview Road and Newport Boulevard. Police kept a line of officers in the middle of Fair Drive, separating the protesters from a small group of counter-protesters across the street.

A pair of police motorcycles patrolled Fair Drive and the Costa Mesa Police helicopter circled repeatedly overhead.

The event organizers cooperated with police to make it a safe event, said Costa Mesa Sgt. Marty Carver.

“They did a great job of cleaning up, they came by and picked up every piece of trash,” Carver said. “It was really respectful.”

By 1 p.m., the crowds had dwindled to a small group of protesters circled in the city parking lot and police re-opened Fair Drive to traffic.