Protests planned in Arizona, nationwide; here’s how police are preparing

PHOENIX — Thousands of protests are expected to be held Saturday, and a former police commander said departments are getting ready.

The protests are against President Donald Trump and will be held the same day as his 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. Organizers are calling it “No Kings Day”.

According to the website, about 40 are planned across Arizona, and former Phoenix Police Department Commander Jeffeory Hynes said departments are preparing.

“We know who’s planning what, who’s coming, where, and try to estimate some of the sizes of the groups that are coming,” Hynes said.

He anticipates drones will be launched, cameras will be set up, and facial recognition technology will be used in case any protestors commit criminal activity. Hynes said with all this equipment, even those who get away will eventually get caught.

“If you damage our patrol cars, if you do acts of violence, if you set fires, if you do graffiti, we’re going to come and get you,” he said.

The main priority for law enforcement will be to keep protestors and citizens safe. Hynes said police will only step in if necessary.

‘If you’re going to come out and you’re going to protest, do it as loud as you want, as vocal as you want, but do not go hands-on with law enforcement,” Hynes said. “Do not damage patrol cars. Do not vandalize buildings, because you’re going to go to jail.”

Some protests against immigration enforcement have already taken place in the Valley since Trump took office. On Tuesday, many gathered in Peoria in what they thought was an ICE raid, but Peoria police said that wasn’t true. It ultimately led to an officer getting assaulted.

According to the Peoria Police Department, officers were providing traffic control in relation to an investigation involving drug-related offenses, which involved Homeland Security Investigations. However, they said misinformation spread on social media, claiming it was an immigration raid that led to the chaotic gathering.

During the law enforcement actions, several demonstrators were on hand to protest the activity. Video from the scene shows multiple people confronting and screaming at police officers as the officers were attempting to detain someone.

Police said the sergeant who was assaulted did not sustain serious injuries.

Peoria PD later clarified details of the law enforcement activity. Officials said the operation was not related to immigration enforcement. The operation was about an unrelated drug investigation and ICE was not involved.

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