NSM: Yet another article in MO. papers

Police Capt. Dresner falsely claims the NSM wants to incite spectators to violence? Using that sort of backwards logic is sort of like saying a pretty girl incites rape, or seeing a negro walking down the street incites lynchings. One is left wondering if this Police Capt. should be in charge of the short bus, at the school for special people?

http://www.showmenews.com/2007/Mar/20070306News011.asp

Police say crowd ‘will dictate our response’

By JOE MEYER of the Tribune’s staff
Published Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Columbia police say it will be easy to tell whether the neo-Nazi group scheduled to march this weekend gets what it wants.

Members of the National Socialist Movement want to incite spectators, causing police to arrest dozens of Columbia residents and make it appear the police are on the same side as the neo-Nazis, police Capt. Tom Dresner said.

That was the case in Toledo, Ohio, in October 2005, where a four-hour riot led to 120 arrests, Capt. Brad Nelson said during a community meeting yesterday at police headquarters. Police urged residents to avoid the demonstration this weekend.

Police Chief Randy Boehm was not at the meeting because he is out of town, Dresner said.

The Minneapolis- based, neo-Nazi group was granted a permit to march downtown between noon and 5 p.m. Saturday.

Police have spent the past week preparing the required security and brushing up on protocol for controversial marches.

"No city ever wants to deal with this element of our society," Dresner said, "but unfortunately, we got picked."

Dresner, assigned by Boehm as acting chief, said officers will make sure the group sticks to its approved parade route.

Nelson, assigned by Boehm as incident commander, said police would not block off those streets. Marchers have to be continuously moving, stay to the right of the road or on the sidewalk and cannot impede traffic.

"That route you could probably walk in 20 minutes," Nelson said. "Why they applied for a five-hour permit, I don’t know."

Nelson said most of the officers assigned to the event would be working overtime. Tactical teams with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Jefferson City Police Department will be standing by as well.

"The crowd, if any, will dictate our response," Nelson said.

University of Missouri-Columbia Police Chief Jack Watring said his department would have a presence downtown but also has to work around Mizzou Arena because of a scheduled state basketball tournament.

Reach Joe Meyer at (573) 815-1718 or jmeyer@tribmail. com.