By james art 
Trump supporters gather in Los Angeles as they protest the results of the January 6, 2021 election. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
From police cars checking polling places to officers on call for the possibility of unbridled election-related protests, Southern California law enforcement agencies are prepared for any mayhem on Election Day and beyond.
Some police agencies work on their plans for most of the year.
Agencies in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties say they have not received word of any planned protests. But, officials added, they will be out when necessary to allow people to vote peacefully while protecting the public if a protest becomes potentially disruptive.
“We know there is a high level of concern and anxiety about the presidential election specifically, so we as a department have been preparing for nearly a year,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “The mission was very clear – to ensure secure, safe and fair elections. …
“The 45 independent chiefs in our district are aware, no matter how big or small their departments are,” Luna continued. “If things go really bad, we’re all going to rely on each other.”
Across the four counties, cooperation and intelligence sharing are key, officials said, adding that resources will be available to assist other jurisdictions if they need help — even potentially crossing county lines.
Federal agencies have told Luna’s department to be prepared, the sheriff said, because of “international actors in countries we don’t like who are putting out false information that heightens sensitivities.
“Our politics today are very polarized,” Luna said, “so that worries us.”
Law enforcement agencies are monitoring social media platforms and their precinct officers are talking to people for every word of possible gatherings, officials said.
Sergeant Frank Gonzalez of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said May’s pro-Palestinian protest at UC Irvine is an example of how the sheriff’s department can team up with others in the county to increase police staffing. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against nearly 50 participants in that protest.
“In case of demonstrations or large-scale events, we can assemble a mobile field team,” Gonzalez said.
His department will not hire additional staff in the days after the election, but the department will be fully staffed and able to bring in officers from other areas to form mobile teams if needed.
In Huntington Beach, where political gatherings near the pier are common, the police department will have extra patrols around polling stations and ballot collection sites to ensure voter safety, said police spokeswoman Jessica Cuchilla.
“In anticipation of potential activity, our specialized units, including those trained to deploy mobile field forces, are on standby, ready to support our patrol teams in maintaining public safety and protecting the right to peaceful assembly,” Kuchila said.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said there would be “extra patrols before and after the election,” but declined to provide details. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department also declined to provide details, but said “ensuring the safety of our community is our top priority and we believe maintaining a level of discretion is essential in that regard.”
There have been protests in Riverside in the past. Officer Ryan Railsback, a city police spokesman, said officers are trained in how to respond to and handle such events.
“You might not even see a big presence from us,” he said. “We’ve changed the way we deal with this because we know that a police presence can escalate on one side.
“That doesn’t mean we’re not out there watching it,” the officer and spokesman said. “(Protesters) are out there doing what they’re allowed to do … and if it gets (unruly), we’ll deal with it.”
After the last presidential election, of course, Trump supporters upset by Joe Biden’s victory rioted in the US Capitol. So far, more than 1,400 people, many from Southern California, have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot, and more than 900 have been convicted. That same day, several hundred, mostly supporters of then-President Trump, gathered in downtown Los Angeles, with six people arrested.
Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles County, Luna said the department will be on “high alert,” with resources and equipment ready in case a protest gets out of hand.
Recent events — like last week’s celebration of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series victory in East Los Angeles that turned ugly — provided practice for what lawmakers could potentially face, he said. In that case, a subway bus was set on fire and destroyed, while elsewhere people looted shops.
Luna said those who want to hold a protest where his department patrols can always call the sheriff’s department ahead of time to coordinate.
“If we work together, we will facilitate the demonstration as long as it is peaceful,” the sheriff said. “If you (want to) get your message out, we can help you, but if you’re going out with a focus on destroying property, hurting people or looting, we have zero tolerance for that.”