The Philadelphia Police Department admitted that a protest the snaked through Center City Philadelphia for seven hours Thursday night posed a test for police, but one of the city’s top officers says officers were up for challenge.
"It was just impressive," said Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross who walked along with protesters.
The "Philly Is Baltimore"” protest remained mostly peaceful but there were tense moments including when protesters surrounded a police car near Rittenhouse Square, tried to enter the Four Seasons hotel and had a showdown with officers blocking the entrance to the Vine Street Expressway (I-676).
The tense showdown on Vine Street left Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan with a bloody lip – struck by a hurled bottle.
"I can't say enough about the phenomenal job the men and women of the Philadelphia Police Department did -- you were out there, you witnessed it -- the professionalism, the restraint," said Sullivan.
Saying the police response was restrained would be an "understatement," said Ross.
Many of the officer keeping the peace were on double shifts and stayed calm despite some personal insults.
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"People think you become a police officer, you suddenly become a robot. You're still a human being and some of the names that they were shouting out -- look, we're not thin skinned, we're professionals -- but you can still be affected by things like that," said Ross.
Police have a blueprint they work off of during demonstrations but in a fluid situation they often have to react to spontaneous actions.
"Is it a pretty sight all the time? No. But at the end of the day, we're out there protecting people who had the right to demonstrate," said Ross.
Protesters returned to the streets Friday night but the demonstration was far smaller and lasted less time.
