Businesses in big cities across the U.S. shut down Tuesday and focused less on making sales than on keeping safe as Election Day and fear of civil unrest loomed.
In Chicago, police patrols were expanded Tuesday and beyond, with personal leave for officers canceled. Businesses along Michigan Avenue were boarded up in anticipation of looting in reaction to election results -- and some merchants partnered with the city to receive real-time information on events around the area.
By late Tuesday, authorities in New York City hadn't received any credible threats of violence but officials said they had "contingency plans in place to freeze areas of Manhattan should wide-scale looting occur."
Police trucks and vehicles were seen outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue as voters weres still heading to the polls. An NYPD official warned demonstrators to behave themselves and put potential rioters on notice that they will be arrested if they engage in destructive behavior.
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Like businesses in other cities that saw widespread unrest over the summer, many in Manhattan used plywood to protect windows and entrances earlier this week in an effort to deter potential looters.
National Guard personnel were deployed in states such as Alabama, Arizona, Florida and Washington to assist local authorities on Election Day.
Portland, Ore., a protest hotspot for several months, was also seeing an increased law enforcement presence.
Beverly Hills prepares
Beverly Hills, Calif., known for its Rodeo Drive shopping area and homes of the rich and famous, spent $4.8 million on "election-related preparedness," hiring two private security companies to assist police, Beverly Hills Police spokesman Lt. Max Subin confirmed to Fox News.
At least 80 armed security guards will help the department by providing extra protection in upscale residential and business areas.
The normally bustling Rodeo Drive remained empty early Tuesday, after police before midnight implemented a hard road closure, installing cement barriers at key intersections, and banning both cars and pedestrian traffic through most streets in the area
In a letter to residents last week, Beverly Hills police Chief Dominick Rivetti outlined plans to ensure community safety, including having officers and command staff working 12-hour shifts from Oct. 31 until at least Nov. 7.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF HAS 'ZERO TOLERANCE' POLICY FOR LOOTING/VIOLENCE THIS WEEK: REPORT
Luxury shops on Rodeo Drive are boarded up in anticipation of possible violent protests on Election Day Nov. 3, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Associated Press)
High anxiety
In the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, police spokeswoman Meeghan Black said officials had not heard about any planned protests but “staffed up” to make sure officers would be available if needed.
Some businesses in Seattle and Bellevue boarded up windows to avoid damage. “Anxieties are running high,” Black said.
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Law enforcement agencies in Washington state’s larger cities were prepared Tuesday to respond to unrest during the election while police misconduct investigators warned that they’d be watching officers to make sure they handled protesters appropriately.
The Office of Police Accountability said its investigators and supervisors were on-call and ready to respond to potential misconduct and complaints. They encouraged the Seattle Police Department “to allow demonstrators to freely exercise their First Amendment rights.”
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They also advised demonstrators to protest peacefully and discouraged vandalism or causing injuries.
Thousands of demonstrators have held marches and rallies in Seattle and Bellevue this year. While most gatherings have been peaceful, the events sometimes turned violent with looting, rock throwing, window breaking and clashes with officers.
Workers were seen Monday boarding up the Cartier store on Rodeo Drive as a precautionary measure in preparation for the 2020 Presidential election on Nov. 3 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
This summer saw widespread protests in Los Angeles and other cities, with racial justice demonstrators largely calling to defund the police. Under state law in California, police departments must have permission from local election officials to send officers to polling sites, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Striking a balance
Law enforcement agencies in the Los Angeles area have been attempting to strike a balance on Election Day, ramping up their prescence amid fears of civil unrest, while assuring the public that officers at polling places are there to protect the election process, not intimate voters.
This week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti assured voters that the LAPD would be “available to protect our rights when we need them, should anybody through violence or other means try to take that away.”
Los Angeles police Chief Michel Moore said nearly every officer would work a 12-hour shift on Election Day and would dress in full uniform to bolster the department's presence across the city.
Should there be a disturbance at polling locations or violence in other areas of the city, the LAPD “will have resources ready, and we’ll take immediate action to restore order,” Moore said, according to the Times.
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