Police force's attitude towards Anonymous worldwide

Reading reports and looking at videos in many places, it is interesting to note how different the attitude of police officers was from one city to the other.

I think that it could be interesting to mention here the general attitude city by city, beginning by a general assessment of the present situation - using the scale below - with complements in tag style:
- Cooperative (police grants special rights due to the specificity of scientology and / or anonymous)
- Neutral (police grants the same rights as other groups)
- Hostile (police tends to hinder anonymous' action; off-duty officers in scientology's pay-roll; arrests)
- Mixed
- No police

I begin with the cases I know. Feel free to complete or correct me. References are welcomed (an asterisk refers to a report on this thread).

Color code for evolutions: Improvement Deterioration Complex

_____________________

Cooperative

Europe: Berlin, D; Copenhagen, DK; Belfast, NI; Düsseldorf, D; Lausanne, CH; London Met, UK; Munich, D

United States: Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL Moved from Hostile; Clearwater, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Nashville, TN; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; St-Louis, MO; Tustin, CA; Washington, DC [2]

Canada: Edmonton, AL; Ottawa, ON; Toronto, ON; Winnipeg, MB

Asia Pacific: Brisbane, AUS; Perth, AUS

Neutral

United States: Edinburgh, UK

United States: Anchorage, AK; Atlanta (DeKalb), GA: Moved from Hostile, Austin, TX; Columbus, OH; Denver, CO; Minneapolis, MI; Mountain View, CA; Richmond, VA; New York, NY; Sacramento, CA.

Canada: Montreal, QC, Ottawa, ON

Asia Pacific: Adelaide, AUS; Melbourne, AUS

Hostile

Europe: UK: London City [4]: moved from Mixed; Manchester: moved from Neutral*

United States: Detroit, MI; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL

Canada: Vancouver, BC: Moved from Neutral

Mixed

Europe: Paris, F (in French); Birmingham, UK

United States: Kansas City, MO

No police

New Zeland: Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington

United States : Albuquerque, NM

[2] youtube.com/watch?v=V3VwgbbYEFs
[4] Officer explaining to scientologists Anonymous' rights to protest (youtube.com/watch?v=2SraUpcJfqw); speech of a Divisional Commander at the opening of new scientology HQ (shortal.com/uptone/spectacularGrandOpen.html), but the relevant section is removed from scientology-london.org/articles/610230006121.vm; Chief Superintendent commending role of scientology after 7/7 attacks and officers dining at scientology expenses (guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/nov/22/freedomofinformation.religion)

the cops in berlin were cooperative, we had a large partyvan (more of a partybus) and about 8 party-sheriffs. we were allowed to wear masks (thanks to the CoS namefagging video, they saw them). i talked to a couple of them, and once they heard the incident II story they were totally on our side - one of them even encouraged to make even bigger and brighter signs for Opration: Reconnect.

Alaska (Anchorage) was great. Last protest we had a some good luck wished upon us, and with this protest more of the same, along with compliments on being non-violent and sticking to local laws and statutes (except for the frickin sidewalk cross walk crowding, but it wasn't mentioned to us by po-po). Shit was SO win!

DC PD Status: Cooperative.

We even got a police escort to the protest site:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=V3VwgbbYEFs

Philadelphia cops were very friendly. They had Civil affairs officers assigned to us the whole time. No sirens, no lights, no handcuffs, just several nice officers in overcoats with orange armbands. The best behaved protestors they've had, they said.

In Columbus, Ohio, USA the police were cooperative, no major incidents, no arrests, small problems were all handled with kind but firm warnings.

New Zealand

Neutral/Mixed?

Auckland: Four Patrol cars arrived at CoS org during protest, no action taken; policeman waved to protestors when leaving.

Christchurch / Wellington: No police presence

Melbourne, Australia

We only ever had two cops at one time, and they mostly spent their time standing around looking amused or bored and texting people. They were cooperative when we went to parliament to have a group photo taken on the steps, just encouraging us to be mindful of the wedding groups that were around.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:

Cooperative.

One police car honked when they drove by. Another one stopped and asked us if we were OK. The officer in the police car that was parked there the entire time let one of us pose in front of his car with a sign to take a picture.

Compared to the rest of the world, I would have to say the Los Angeles Police Department was overwhelmingly supportive of Anonymous. (But again, that's in comparison)

First - the Co$ tried to block off the public sidewalk running along the south side of Sunset Blvd, directly in front of their big, screened off compound. Apparently the Co$ obtained a film permit and used this as reason for why they were blocking off access to LRH Way, but although there was a dolly crane literally parked in the opening of LRH, it never moved for the entire time we were there. And they never turned off that ridiculously lame, loud video screen of theirs - so how much filming could they have been doing? In any case, regardless of what they wanted to do, the LAPD would not allow them to block the sidewalk in front of their gay little club, so Anon was allowed to completely surround the intersection at Sunset and L. Ron Hubbard Way. Win.

Next - in spite of the fact that not a single Anon had a sign that said "HONK anything", motorists tooling up and down Sunset continued to honk their horns almost non-stop. Even city Bus Drivers were honking! But not once did the Police pull over a driver and cite them for making a disturbance. Win.

At one point - a very nice, very professional black police officer arrived on the scene. Anons on the curb just to the left of the Big Blue entrance were stepping off the curb, out into the street and handing fliers to motorists stopped at the light. Obviously, this isn't safe - and probably not very legal, either. When the Officer arrived, in a big black & white Bronco, he parked about 30 to 40 feet from the intersection, essentially blocking the far right lane, requiring traffic to go around him. He then approached us and reminded us that it was unsafe and unwise to walk out into traffic. He also said we lived in the greatest country in the world, where we were allowed to demonstrate and say what we want like this. He encouraged us to have a good time and thanked us for behaving ourselves so well. Then he walked over to the center of Sunset, where a few other officers were already standing. Meanwhile, he left his vehicle blocking the lane. This meant that there was no immediate traffic directly in front of the Anons on the curb. As time went by, some of the Anons went back to stepping off the sidewalk and into the street to give out more fliers. I specifically checked to see what the police would do or say - but not a one of them came our way or remonstrated the Anons any further. I could see that they were watching us, but they never made a fuss about it again. Win.

At another point - there was an elderly man wearing a tan jacket who has since been confirmed as a member of the Co$' ranks - either as a hired PI/Security or as OSA. He continued to wander through the crowds of Anon, at various times claiming to be just curious, just passing by, or possibly even supportive of Anon. At one point - and the details have been posted elsewhere - Tan Jacket Old Man revealed that he was carrying a hand gun. Almost immediately, Anons were alerted, one Anon made a sign with an arrow pointing downward to TJ, which read, "THIS MAN HAS A GUN". Anon photgraphers started snapping away, tagging this person for life as NOT ANONYMOUS. Shortly thereafter, the Police approached him and questioned him. Although he claimed to have a permit to carry the weapon, he certainly didn;t have a permit to be showing the gu nin public and in either case, his mere presence with a firearm in the middle of a protest - no matter how peaceful - was inappropriate and potentially dangerous. The Police escorted him away from the group of Anons, and TJ crossed Sunset - and immediately joined ranks with the Scientolgists at Big Blue. I don;t know about anyone else, but I have no doubts he was with them. Good job on the Anons who spotted him and flagged him and good job on the LAPD. Win.

In general - Yes, there were many officers who, you could tell by their expressions, were not as openly supportive or maybe even downright nonplussed about Anonymous being there. But think about it - a large group of mysterious, unidentifiable people in masks in a potentially volatile situation. Cops are supposed to be suspicious and on the lookout for trouble and troublemakers. Masked individuals often are trouble makers. But I think the overwhelming majority of LAPD understand that the only trouble we want to make is for the Co$, in response to the trouble they are making for the rest of the world. Win.

Now, over at the Shrine, it was another matter. The Police presence there was clearly in support to the Super Adventure Club's cousin-pokin' event. I haven't heard any confirmation of this yet, but it is possible that these were off-duty officers, as the area in which the Anonymous presence was active wasn't as high-profile as Sunset Blvd. Also Anon was in fewer numbers here.

At the Shrine, the Police (off duty or not) effectively "cornered" Anon to one small stretch of side walk, across the street from the backside of the Shrine Auditorium. They also - through the power of magical yellow CAUTION tape, created a veritable maze through which Anon could only approach the protest site by going all the way around a 2 block area, always staying across the street from the Shrine.

The real pisser about this tactic is that the Co$ was effectively blocking public sidewalks, even refusing access to the residents of the community around the Shrine. Lame.

I don't know if anyone called or has tried to call the LAPD to confirm the capacity in which the Police served there at the Shrine, but I believe if the Officers on the scene were "off-duty", they essentially become rent-a-cops, and their allegiances may actually be with the Co$, simply to be willing to take the job and carry out these injustices in the first place. Again. Lame.

But overall - like 99.99% overall - LAPD were super-encouraging and I think it is even more important than before that we maintain a highly cooperative and positive relationship with them, partnering with them whenever possible, and that the police departments in every city in America should be called to mirror their example. Freedom of Speech and Peaceable Assembly are Constitutionally protected rights. It is the job of all police departments to protect the rights of every American - not just power-mad, money-grubbing Cults.

Denver, CO USA:
Neutral-
The police have both praised us for our cooperation, and nudged us to clear sidewalks for pedestrians. They let us sing, dance and chant, but they pulled over the Ecto Cruiser for playing Party Hard too loud on its stereo. A verbal warning was issued to the driver but no tickets. The Scientologists who were filming us kept getting closer, and at one point, the police told them to go back to their own side of the street. I got the distinct impression that the police will not allow it to get loud and rowdy, nor will they tolerate baiting from either side, but they seem to prefer warnings and instructions to tickets or worse. They're cool. :)

San Francisco, CA: SFPD loves Anonymous! :D

They were right behind us on 2/10. They were giving us an escort when we were walking around the block on 3/15. I personally made sure to thank them on 3/15 and they were getting some serious $cientology Bullshit 101 lessons from Tommy Gorman himself. They gave the flash-protestors on 3/22 some mad support since the North Beach precinct is annoyed as all heck with the Scilons. LOL

For the next protest, we're thinking of getting them a card signed by everyone that's there. So there'll be 250+ signatures saying "Anonymous" LOL!

Woaaaah hold on a minute. CWPD was EXCELLENT. Don't be lumping them with Atlanta. CWPD does not equal CW governing body.

Clearwater PD: Cooperative.

Understands the need for masks, and at least at last comment/protest allowed Guy Fawkes masks. Knows about Co$ and stalking/PIs/harassment, apparently informs people of this, at least one officer thought masks were a very good idea, recommended researching specific stalking laws (Florida Stalking Law 784.046 and Florida Stalking Law 784.048 ) and pointed out that there were some less obvious PIs we probably didn't notice, and cwpd in general understands Anonymous far better than Co$ does(not that that's hard).

An anon speaking with Lt Steffens in particular:
http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/viewtopic.php?p=305378
I found it helpful and generally the same as what I saw.

For the next protest, we're thinking of getting them a card signed by everyone that's there. So there'll be 250+ signatures saying "Anonymous" LOL!

I saw that blog and we had darn well better do that too, not the least because as one of the other cwanons pointed out, a card signed "David Mudkips" 200 times would be brilliant.

In fact, I think it'd be a good idea if everyone who found their PD helpful did that.

Toronto, Canada

Concerning 2/10:
Police were Neutral/Cooperative, watched us from across the street on bikes, let a small number across to the CO$'s front doors to protest there, no hassles.

Concerning 3/15:
Neutral/Cooperative, we had a nice police escort to take us from Yonge/Dundas square to the Co$, they laughed when the Imperial March was playing during the march to the Co$, gave us a buffer zone of one lane on the street, did not let us across to the Co$ on 3/15 (apparently the Co$ had put up a major bitchfest from last time), helped people across the street and were overall pleasant.