Tacoma Bills Military For Anti-War Protest Costs

It'd be cheaper for the military just to shoot the stupid bastards next time. In a perfect world, Tacoma would be told either 1) bill the idiots (the protesters and their organizers, probably ANSWER, code pink, etc.) whose presence cost you the money, or 2) let them do what they want the next time so they end up in military courts and military prisons.

Tacoma police say last month's 12-day anti-war protests cost the city an unbudgeted $500,000 to provide a large-scale law enforcement presence.

The rough estimate covers overtime, regular compensation, equipment and food for hundreds of workers from Tacoma police and other agencies, Assistant Chief Bob Sheehan said.
The city plans to ask the Port of Tacoma and the military to cover some of the costs.

"That's a tremendous hit on our budget -- a half-million dollars of unexpected expense," said Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, adding that the military would get the first invoice."I think our request is justifiable," Baarsma said. "I would expect that we would be reimbursed. I would be surprised if we weren't."