Oakland protests’ OT costs for cops: $1.3 million

The protests in Oakland over the past three weeks have cost the city more than $1 million in overtime pay, officials said Friday.

The demonstrations, 14 in Oakland in the past 18 days, were sparked when a pair of grand juries declined to indict white police officers in the deaths of two unarmed black men, Michael Brown in Missouri and Eric Garner in New York.

Most of that that overtime pay, $1.3 million worth through Saturday, was paid to police who have frequently been caught unaware by marches that start in other cities and enter Oakland without much notice, interim assistant city administrator Arturo Sanchez said in a statement.

Oakland police have arrested 209 people over the course of the protests, Sanchez said, though he did not say what the range of charges were against those arrested or where they were from.

Sanchez said that besides the cost to the city, he was particularly disturbed by those within the largely peaceful marches who have committed acts vandalism and violence. More disturbing still, he said, were a few instances when those trying to stop vandals and looters have been attacked.

As of Wednesday, Berkeley police had arrested 27 people related to the protests, which began in that city on Saturday, on charges that included assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and vandalism. Over that period, 13 police officers were hurt, officials said, with three requiring hospital treatment.

Sanchez said the city anticipates the demonstrations to continue, with a large rally planned for Saturday afternoon, and Oakland officials will do their best to keep residents informed of when and where they will take place.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale