SAN FRANCISCO - While voicing confidence in San Francisco's police, Mayor Garvin Newsom pledged that the city has the ability to provide the level of security to make the Olympic torch relay "a safe event for everyone".
"I have absolute confidence in our police chief Heather Fong to ensure a proud and smooth torch relay" scheduled for April 9 in San Francisco, Newsom said in an interview with Xinhua.
The Police Department has direct experience in Olympic torch runs in San Francisco, Newsom said in remarks intended to alleviate worries about police's ability to provide enough security amid threats to disrupt the relay.
The Olympic torch has come through San Francisco as part of the Squaw Valley Games 1960, Los Angeles 1984, Atlanta 1996, Salt Lake City 2002, the mayor said.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), along with the mayor's staff and some other departments, "has been working continuously with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the safety of the Beijing torch run participants and the spectators," said the mayor.
He said the city's police "has extensive experience in monitoring and facilitating the hundreds of large public events that take place in San Francisco each year, and is confident that the department will provide the level of security to make this a safe event for everyone".
"In addition, the department is focusing not only on safety, but also on traffic concerns in the areas adjacent to the torch run route," he said.
SFPD Traffic Division personnel will be facilitating traffic in those areas that will be affected by the route, according to the mayor.
Earlier, Police Chief Heather Fong and her top staff went before the police commission to lay out their plans for security during the relay.
At City Hall, police top brass told the commission they're hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst when it comes to how officers will handle the thousands of protestors expected during the Olympic torch relay on Wednesday when the ceremonial torch makes its only North American stop on its way to China.
Deputy Police Chief Kevin Cashman vowed that officers will do everything they can to protect the first amendment rights of the protestors. However, he also said police won't tolerate anyone who breaks the law trespassing, by resisting arrest or committing any other crimes.
"What will not be allowed will be violations of the law such as interfering with the torch relay (or) unlawful disruption of any scheduled events," explained Cashman.
Police told the local KTVU TV station that hundreds of officers will be working security for the torch relay and that they will be receiving help from state and federal law enforcement including the California Highway Patrol and the State Department.
Other Bay Area law enforcement agencies will be brought in if needed. Police officials say at this point, they don't know what the cost of security will be to the city, but that some of the money will come from the state and federal government.
"The eyes of the world are going to be on this. It's going to be on the shoulder of the SF Police Department to make us proud or not, " said San Francisco Police Commission President Theresa Sparks.
