Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Tensions Between Occupiers and Police Intensify In U.S. Cities

Tensions between Occupiers and police intensified over the weekend in Portland, Oakland, Denver, and other U.S. cities as municipalities stepped up their efforts to remove the protesters from city property. Several officers were assaulted by protesters during the incidents.

November 14, 2011
Tensions Between Occupiers and Police Intensify In U.S. Cities

Photo: Love Will Form All Things

2 min to read


Tensions between Occupiers and police intensified over the weekend in Portland, Oakland, Denver, and other U.S. cities as municipalities stepped up their efforts to remove the protesters from city property.

In several of the incidents, officers were assaulted by protesters.

Ad Loading...

In San Francisco, two officers were attacked in separate incidents at The Embarcadero and Broadway where San Francisco Police were attempting to hold the line against protesters. In the first incident, a female attacked an officer with an razor blade attached to a pencil-like object. In the second attack, a male demonstrator grabbed an officer's radio from his duty belt. The officer's uniform was torn, and he suffered an injury to his cheek while attempting to retrieve the radio, reports the San Francisco Examiner.

In Denver, three Occupy protesters were arrested Sunday after scuffling with police. A Denver Police officer and Colorado state trooper were injured during a shoving match when the officers attempted to move a table being used to serve food, reports the Denver Post.

Oakland again showed its combustible potential, as Oakland Police again cleared the tent city outside of City Hall. Hundreds of officers converged before dawn on the encampment at 14th Street and Broadway to arrest 32 Occupiers, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Over the weekend, an activist with Berkeley CopWatch posted a video showing Oakland Police Officer Fred Shavies and another officer attending Occupy protests in plainclothes. The video, which went viral, included a soundtrack with audio from 2003 of acting chief Howard Jordan telling the police board of review that the agency infiltrated an anti-war group at that time.

To respond to claims that he was infiltrating the group, Officer Shavies agreed to a video interview with a photographer to respond to the CopWatch video. In the interview, Officer Shavies said he sympathizes with protesters, reports the New York Times.

Ad Loading...

The weekend's high arrest count came in Portland, Ore., where 51 protesters were taken into custody. Officers decked out in riot gear didn't use tear gas or rubber bullets, reports The Oregonian.

Salt Lake City Police on Saturday cleared the Occupy SLC campsite at Pioneer Park, and Occupiers vacated the park nonviolently. Several were handcuffed, reports the Salt Lake Tribune.

More Patrol

BRINC fundraising announcement graphic featuring a response drone in flight, highlighting a $125 million funding round to expand 911 response drones for police and fire stations, led by Motorola Solutions Ventures with additional investors.
PatrolJuly 16, 2026

Brinc Raises $125M to Put a 911 Response Drone on Every Police and Fire Station Roof

The latest round of funding, $125 million, can help fuel Brinc’s mission to deploy 911-response drones at the 80,000 police and fire stations across the United States.

Read More →
POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips video series graphic featuring a Garmont Tactical Contact Collection duty boot against a police vehicle with flashing lights. Includes “Watch Now” callout for the video series.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJuly 9, 2026

Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement

Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.

Read More →
Benchmade Bailout folding knife with a bronze tanto blade, taiga green handle, and orange accents displayed open against a textured black background, highlighting its lightweight tactical design.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout

Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Composite image of ADEPT's Nova Titanium tactical helmet, showing front and side views alongside a soldier wearing the helmet in the field, highlighting lightweight ballistic protection for military and tactical applications.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight

Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.

Read More →
Two healthcare professionals model 5.11 medical scrubs—one in gray and one in blue—against a blurred hospital background, highlighting the brand’s professional apparel for medical workers.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals

The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.

Read More →
Close-up of a black SOG Seal FX knife featuring a commemorative 250th anniversary engraving on the blade, displayed on an American flag to honor the United States' semiquincentennial.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Close-up of a slim black Streamlight Wedge SL flashlight resting on an olive tactical vest with a black-and-gray American flag patch, its LED illuminated to showcase the compact everyday carry design.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJune 25, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL

The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.

Read More →
Graphic recognizing Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose (CA) Police Department as Officer of the Month for May 2026, featuring his uniformed portrait beside a badge-and-rose emblem.
PatrolJune 25, 2026

NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.

Read More →
Promotional image for Garmont Tactical’s Contact Collection featuring black tactical boots displayed in front of a police vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights. Text announces the new collection and notes it is now available.
PatrolJune 24, 2026

Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE

Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic celebrating 1,613 Folds of Honor graduates, featuring graduation books, a diploma, a mortarboard cap, the Folds of Honor logo, and an inset photo of a graduate standing in front of a campus building.
PatrolJune 11, 2026

Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees

Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.

Read More →