Damage to buildings, OT for cops and firefighters will cost taxpayers $50K after Trump rally

The city of Albuquerque says damage from unruly protests that followed Tuesday’s Donald Trump rally, combined with overtime for police officers and dispatch workers, will cost taxpayers at least $50,000.

An estimated 8,000 people attended the Trump rally and 1,000 people are estimated to have protested outside.

APD spokeswoman Celina Espinoza said Wednesday that eight windows and a glass door on the Albuquerque Convention Center’s east side were damage and will cost $10,000 to replace.

Espinoza says around 200 APD officers were assigned to the rally, and a “vast majority” of them were working on overtime. Some day shift officers ended up working from 6 a.m. to midnight, Espinoza said. She says exact overtime costs are still being calculated.

Espinoza also said the APD Emergency Communication Center had seven employees working overtime as well. Their overtime costs amounted to just under $1,000.

30 Albuquerque firefighters were also assigned to the event, seven of whom accrued overtime.

Four people were arrested or cited at the rally and protest, and APD says more arrests are expected.

Six APD officers and one BCSD deputy received injuries from rocks thrown at them in violence that happened after the rally and original protest. They were treated at the scene.