June 09--MOSCOW -- Moscow isn't exactly known for riots exploding onto its streets, but now the police department can more easily handle one if it does happen.
This week the city council approved the expenditure of almost $20,000 for new police protective gear over the objection of Mayor Nancy Chaney.
"Preparedness matters, of course, but Moscow does not have a history of riots," Chaney wrote last week in a memo to the city's public works and finance committee.
The money to pay for the gear came from a $41,000 payment made by equipment hauler Mammoet, which trucked multiple shipments of oversized Imperial Oil refinery equipment through Moscow last year. The shipments required an extra police presence to control vehicle traffic and protesters who tried to block the loads. Mammoet reimbursed the city for that expense.
City Supervisor Gary Riedner said while the money was essentially a windfall generated by the police department's extra work, it did go into the city general fund. Chaney said she believed all departments, including police, should get a fair shot at securing the money for their projects.
Chaney also said new riot gear was not presented as a priority to her for the police department's 2013 budget, and the request should have been a part of the regular appropriation process.
"I have asked the city supervisor to ask the police chief to include the proposal as part of his department's amended 2013 budget request, and to prioritize it as he deems appropriate," Chaney wrote.
But Riedner said the city council felt there was a general need for the new equipment, and it was easy to spend the money because it was an unanticipated addition to the city budget. The vote at this week's council meeting was unanimous, except for Councilor Tom Lamar, who was absent.
The police department can order 28 sets of the protective equipment at a cost of $700 per set to replace its existing 10 sets. The new purchase will cover almost the entire 34-person department, and include items like reinforced chest protectors and helmets.
Riedner said while incidents that require police to use riot gear are extremely rare, they can and do occur. One case in his recent memory was from 1998, when Moscow police helped quell an alcohol-fueled melee at Washington State University.
"When the riot at WSU occurred, we responded with a couple dozen officers, one of whom got hurt," Riedner said. Several students and 22 other law enforcement officials were injured in the College Hill disturbance. "At that point, our police department did purchase some older protective gear. But now it's out of date."
Mills may be contacted at [email protected] or (208) 883-0564.
Copyright 2012 - Lewiston Tribune, Idaho
