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Student protests, 1972-1973

1973-04-30 Daily Iowan Article: ""New Police riot strategy used for UI smoke-in""

Page 2-The Daily Iowan-Iowa City,Iowa-Mon.. April 30,1973
Smokin'
Protesters gathered on the steps of the Old Capitol during the free-for-all 'smoke in' Saturday night. There was much nervous laughter and booing of the Campus Security police but few people dared to light-up a 'J' at the YIP-sponsered event.
New police riot strategy used for UI smoke-in
   Editor's Note: Daily Iowan public affairs writers, William G. Hladky, has covered protests on the national and local scenes for the past three years.
   Local law enforcement broke with tradition Saturday night in preparing for potential protests.
   Unlike previous years, University of Iowa Campus Security, Iowa City Police, Johnson County Sheriff's Dept. and Iowa Highway Patrol were seemingly ready to act in coordination if members of Saturday nights gathering began to trash. The teamwork was planned without the use of the State Emergency Operations Board.
   In the past, people have been allowed to gather on the Pentacrest and form that elusive creature called a protest without a law enforcement officer in sight. The thinking being that uniforms would stir the crowd.
   Last spring, protesters were allowed to trash for two hours, creating about $20,000 in window damage to downtown stores before  Iowa City Police moved in.
   Campus security was kept inside and the Highway Patrol was called after the disturbance were well under way.
   This year, campus security took a major role. According to security head John D. Dooley and Iowa City Public Safety Director David G. Epstein, university police police would handle the crowd on campus. If activities escalated Dooley would call in the city police.
   At this point Epstein would be in charge, according to Dooley. Epstein said, however, that it would be a cooperative effort. If campus security and city police needed reinforcements, he would call in the Iowa Highway Patrol and the county deputies.
   The state troopers were om "saturation patrol" in Johnson County this weekend. The saturation patrol officially had nothing to do with the protests. 
   Dooley started four two man campus security on the Pentacrest about 11 a.m. Saturday. At 7p.m., additional walking teams were used. Dooley said he had about 36 men on the Pentacrest at one time.
   "What we agree upon," he said, "is that our security would maintain a high degree of visibility. It wasn't real strategy. The officers were told to mingle with the crowd and that violators should be arrested...in case if any massive movements, they would receive orders."
   Security officers have complained in the past of being help in the university buildings with riot gear on while other law enforcement officers battled the protesters. Dooley said two weeks ago that his officers "would be in the center of things: if anything occurred.
Action begins
   Security officers were in the center of things about 9 p.m. when they arrested Aaron C. Smith, 1232 E. College for possession of marijuana. Taking Smith from the crowd to the campus security barracks on the North Capital Street caused the crowd of about 100 people to move off the Pentacrest to the police quarters.
   As this occurred, Epstein, who was directing city police activities from an unmarked car, ordered in his late night shirt two hours earlier than their usual 11 p.m. start.
   
   As soon as members of the night shirt arrived, they relieved city officers already on the streets, freeing the police to get their riot gear, which was then hidden in city cars.
   Once the men had their equipment, Epstein ordered them all back onto the city streets to "mingle" with people. In the past city police department basement waiting while protesters trashed.
   While Epstein ordered extra forces, he also told the radio operator using a scrambling device to "request" the Highway Patrol to concentrate their patrols around the Pentacrest. 
   The radioman replied that the patrol had already moved in. one officer said he thought about nine highway partol cars were in Johnson County Saturday night.
Conference
   At 9:30 p.m. Epstein, Hughes and Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle H. Dickinson met in police headquarters. Dickinson was sporting civilian clothes and a grumpy look. He told one officer he was in the midst of a card game. Hughes kept looking at his stomach mockingly complaining, "I haven't had breakfast, lunch or dinner yet."
   At this time, Epstein decided not to request his day shift to return to duty.
   He did attempt to contact city civilian officials to advise them of the situation. Ray S. Wells, coty manager, was out for dinner. Ralph Speer Public Works director was out of town. The police finally spoke with Joseph Pugh, city finance director.
   The tension among law enforcement people began to decline after this point. The crowd had been persuaded to go back from security barracks to the Pentacrest, where they began to disperse.
   Dickinson went home about 10:30 p.m. with most of the Highway Patrol going back to regulas duties about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Hughes left for home about 11:30 p.m. although Epstein kept his extra men out until about 1:45 a.m. Sunday.

Such early cooperation among county law enforcement officials seems remarkable when compared to previous years. The lack of coordination in the past reached such a point that the state put together the Emergency Operations Board.
   If Gov. Robert D. Ray believes the protests are believes the protests are beyond control of local officials the state takes charge of all law enforcement operations through the Emergency Board.
Epstein did not think law enforcement personnel over reacted Saturday night. A witness to many studen protests at Michigan State University as a graduate student, Epstein said, "You have to judge over reaction by results. I let you judge."
He said Iowa City police were never asked to go on campus as a group Saturday. Although plain clothes officers were.
   "You want to prevent trouble before it starts. that is the prime principle. So you get patrols out patrolling."

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Page 2-The Daily Iowan-Iowa City,Iowa-Mon.. April 30,1973 Smokin' Protesters gathered on the steps of the Old Capitol during the free-for-all 'smoke in' Saturday night. There was much nervous laughter and booing of the Campus Security police but few people dared to light-up a 'J' at the YIP-sponsered event. New police riot strategy used for UI smoke-in Editor's Note: Daily Iowan public affairs writers, William G. Hladky, has covered protests on the national and local scenes for the past three years. Local law enforcement broke with tradition Saturday night in preparing for potential protests. Unlike previous years, University of Iowa Campus Security, Iowa City Police, Johnson County Sheriff's Dept. and Iowa Highway Patrol were seemingly ready to act in coordination if members of Saturday nights gathering began to trash. The teamwork was planned without the use of the State Emergency Operations Board. In the past, people have been allowed to gather on the Pentacrest and form that elusive creature called a protest without a law enforcement officer in sight. The thinking being that uniforms would stir the crowd. Last spring, protesters were allowed to trash for two hours, creating about $20,000 in window damage to downtown stores before Iowa City Police moved in. Campus security was kept inside and the Highway Patrol was called after the disturbance were well under way. This year, campus security took a major role. According to security head John D. Dooley and Iowa City Public Safety Director David G. Epstein, university police police would handle the crowd on campus. If activities escalated Dooley would call in the city police. At this point Epstein would be in charge, according to Dooley. Epstein said, however, that it would be a cooperative effort. If campus security and city police needed reinforcements, he would call in the Iowa Highway Patrol and the county deputies. The state troopers were om "saturation patrol" in Johnson County this weekend. The saturation patrol officially had nothing to do with the protests. Dooley started four two man campus security on the Pentacrest about 11 a.m. Saturday. At 7p.m., additional walking teams were used. Dooley said he had about 36 men on the Pentacrest at one time. "What we agree upon," he said, "is that our security would maintain a high degree of visibility. It wasn't real strategy. The officers were told to mingle with the crowd and that violators should be arrested...in case if any massive movements, they would receive orders." Security officers have complained in the past of being help in the university buildings with riot gear on while other law enforcement officers battled the protesters. Dooley said two weeks ago that his officers "would be in the center of things: if anything occurred. Action begins Security officers were in the center of things about 9 p.m. when they arrested Aaron C. Smith, 1232 E. College for possession of marijuana. Taking Smith from the crowd to the campus security barracks on the North Capital Street caused the crowd of about 100 people to move off the Pentacrest to the police quarters. As this occurred, Epstein, who was directing city police activities from an unmarked car, ordered in his late night shirt two hours earlier than their usual 11 p.m. start. As soon as members of the night shirt arrived, they relieved city officers already on the streets, freeing the police to get their riot gear, which was then hidden in city cars. Once the men had their equipment, Epstein ordered them all back onto the city streets to "mingle" with people. In the past city police department basement waiting while protesters trashed. While Epstein ordered extra forces, he also told the radio operator using a scrambling device to "request" the Highway Patrol to concentrate their patrols around the Pentacrest. The radioman replied that the patrol had already moved in. one officer said he thought about nine highway partol cars were in Johnson County Saturday night. Conference At 9:30 p.m. Epstein, Hughes and Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle H. Dickinson met in police headquarters. Dickinson was sporting civilian clothes and a grumpy look. He told one officer he was in the midst of a card game. Hughes kept looking at his stomach mockingly complaining, "I haven't had breakfast, lunch or dinner yet." At this time, Epstein decided not to request his day shift to return to duty. He did attempt to contact city civilian officials to advise them of the situation. Ray S. Wells, coty manager, was out for dinner. Ralph Speer Public Works director was out of town. The police finally spoke with Joseph Pugh, city finance director. The tension among law enforcement people began to decline after this point. The crowd had been persuaded to go back from security barracks to the Pentacrest, where they began to disperse. Dickinson went home about 10:30 p.m. with most of the Highway Patrol going back to regulas duties about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Hughes left for home about 11:30 p.m. although Epstein kept his extra men out until about 1:45 a.m. Sunday. Such early cooperation among county law enforcement officials seems remarkable when compared to previous years. The lack of coordination in the past reached such a point that the state put together the Emergency Operations Board. If Gov. Robert D. Ray believes the protests are believes the protests are beyond control of local officials the state takes charge of all law enforcement operations through the Emergency Board. Epstein did not think law enforcement personnel over reacted Saturday night. A witness to many studen protests at Michigan State University as a graduate student, Epstein said, "You have to judge over reaction by results. I let you judge." He said Iowa City police were never asked to go on campus as a group Saturday. Although plain clothes officers were. "You want to prevent trouble before it starts. that is the prime principle. So you get patrols out patrolling."