Bush in Stockton Tuesday morning; In El Dorado Hills later that day

http://www.stocktongov.com/parks/civicauditorium/civicmain.cfm - How to find the Stockton Civic Auditorium

S.J. agencies prepare for Bush's visit
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/NEWS01/610020312
Ellen Thompson
Record Staff Writer
Published Monday, Oct 2, 2006

STOCKTON - While the Secret Service protects the president, local law enforcement agencies are left to orchestrate the tug of war among protesters, supporters and looky-loos who typically crowd the streets during presidential visits.

Stockton police for several weeks have devoted hundreds of hours to planning that feat ahead of President Bush's visit Tuesday, his second trip to Stockton.

The president is scheduled to attend a $250-a-plate breakfast for Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium and a fundraising lunch at an El Dorado Hills country club for Rep. John Doolittle, R-Granite Bay.

"We're committing a lot of resources to this visit to assure the president's safety while he's here," Stockton Deputy Police Chief Mark Helms said.

Stockton police are working with the California Highway Patrol, under the direction of the Secret Service, to protect Bush during his time in the city.

The Police Department has practice. Similar preparations were made for Bush's 2002 visit. That trip was scheduled to support unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon.

An unprecedented crowd of protesters gathered in Stockton for Bush's first visit. Many of them criticized the police's handling of the demonstration. Buses and trucks blocked the president's view of the crowd that gathered across the street from the Civic Auditorium. Police said the vehicles were placed at the request of the Secret Service as a security precaution.

Plans for protesting Bush policies and Pombo's re-election campaign splashed across local left-wing Web sites as soon as news of his visit was announced in mid-September. Activist John Morearty, a member of the Catholic peace organization Pax Christi, said he expects the turnout Tuesday to exceed that of 2002.

"I'm hearing people will be here from Sacramento to the foothills to the Bay Area," he said.

Helms said an area again will be reserved for protesters. Police ask that ticket holders for the event come early and expect side streets near the auditorium to be closed. Center Street will be closed from Acacia Street south Tuesday until late morning, Helms said.

Several lieutenants and a police captain for two weeks have been coordinating the police's protective presence, which will consist mostly of officers on special assignment, Helms said.

"No place in the city will experience any reduction in services," he said. "No patrols will be reduced."

As for the overtime involved, "dignitary protection is a cost of doing business," he said, adding that its an honor for the city.

Before Bush visited in 2002, Stockton's last presidential visit was from President Truman more than 50 years ago.

Contact reporter Ellen Thompson at (209) 546-8279 or ethompson [at] recordnet.com