SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Sonoma County has paid about $225,000 in overtime for law enforcement officers monitoring protests over the killing of 13-year-old Andy Lopez by a sheriff's deputy.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported Monday that the majority of the expense _ about $207,000 through Dec. 31 - was borne by the Sheriff's Office.
The bulk of the expense — about $207,000 through Dec. 31 — was borne by the Sheriff’s Office, which stationed deputies in riot gear outside its front doors and at the neighboring Hall of Justice during protests that drew up to 1,500 people, the paper reported.
Santa Rosa police officers racked up about $18,000 in overtime through Dec. 10.
Lopez was fatally shot Oct. 22 while holding a toy rifle police say Deputy Erick Gelhaus mistook for an AK-47 assault rifle.
The shooting prompted community outrage and several demonstrations.
The teen's family has since filed a federal lawsuit (PDF) alleging civil rights violations.
