The Army has denied the city’s request for more than $600,000 to cover its expenses for patrolling the series of anti-war protests, and the Port of Tacoma has yet to respond to a similar reimbursement request.

During the 12-day span of the Port of Tacoma protests, which focused on a shipment of Stryker vehicles en route to Iraq, Tacoma police arrested 37 people and had between 100 and 150 officers working every 12 hours.

Overtime police pay and staffing for the protests between March 3 and March 14 totaled $621,489, according to a City of Tacoma invoice. Fire Department costs totaled an additional $26,227.

“We had more people working the protests than we normally do the entire city,” said Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum. “That’s not something you can budget for.”

Tara Hazarian, public affairs manager for the Port of Tacoma, said Monday that port officials still are working on a response to the city’s bill. They are setting up a meeting between members of the military and representatives from the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Olympia to discuss the matter.

The entities also will discuss plans for handling future security problems, Hazarian said.

City Manager Eric Anderson said the city will likely take its request to the Department of Defense, but officials are waiting for a response from the port before doing anything more. When city officials were in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, they alerted staff members from Washington’s congressional delegation that this was an issue and that the city could end up asking for assistance, Anderson said.

Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma said that the costs of the protest patrols are one reason why Tacoma Police Department expenditures are $1.4 million over budget this year. He said he doesn’t think it’s unfair for the city to ask for reimbursement from the Army and from the port.

“I think it’s a reasonable request,” Baarsma said. “It’s an added expense in which we provided extra security for their operation.”

In an August letter to the Port of Tacoma requesting reimbursement, Tacoma Police Chief Don Ramsdell said that without the help of local law enforcement during the protests, “the situation would have quickly spun out of control.”

A similar request for reimbursement was sent to Fort Lewis in May. In July, an Army official for resource management wrote the city saying the Army had no legal obligation to foot the bill.

“I am aware this reply will be disappointing, but it is the only possible response that can be made in the circumstances present here,” wrote Linda Wilson, a deputy chief of staff for Army resource management in Alexandria, Va. “This command greatly appreciates the professional services provided by the police and fire department.”

Officers from 10 other law enforcement agencies, including the Seattle Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, contributed a total of $424,797 in aid during the protests. Those agencies aren’t asking the City of Tacoma for reimbursement, Baarsma said.

Anderson said the city doesn’t care whether the military or the port pays the bill, or how the two entities might divide it, but only that Tacoma is reimbursed.

“The action was taken on behalf of both the military and the port,” he said, adding that he was struck by the military’s response, which seems to indicate that it has no budget for security.

Melissa Santos: 253-552-7058

melissa.santos@thenewstribune.com

Jason Hagey: 253-597-8542

jason.hagey@thenewstribune.com