Hundreds of Wisconsin Cops Take Sides With Leftist Protesters Inside Capitol Building

A couple of days ago The Blaze posted our observations about officers in Wisconsin seemingly turning a blind-eye to the substance-fueled behavior of protesters inside the capitol building.

A police spokesperson told us, "That would never be able to happen."

We are now getting a different picture of the police relationship with the leftist protesters.

The Green Bay Press Gazette:

MADISON — Hundreds of off-duty police officers and deputies joined protests today against Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill that would strip most collective bargaining powers from about 170,000 public employees.

Police, state troopers and firefighters are exempt from Walker's proposal, but even as some marched on the downtown Capitol Square, hundreds of other officers from around the state provided security.

They came equipped with riot gear, including helmets and batons, they said, but didn't expect trouble.

The Understory blog posts this:

From inside the Wisconsin State Capitol, RAN ally Ryan Harvey reports:

“Hundreds of cops have just marched into the Wisconsin state capitol building to protest the anti-Union bill, to massive applause. They now join up to 600 people who are inside.”

Ryan reported on his Facebook page earlier today:

“Police have just announced to the crowds inside the occupied State Capitol of Wisconsin: ‘We have been ordered by the legislature to kick you all out at 4:00 today. But we know what’s right from wrong. We will not be kicking anyone out, in fact, we will be sleeping here with you!’ Unreal.”

More from the Press Gazette:

Sheboygan County Sheriff's Cpl. Matt Spence and Deputy Todd Traas stood guard on the Capitol's northwest side directing pedestrians toward entrances to the building.

"We left at 3 a.m. on Thursday and have been (in Madison) ever since," Traas said. Five Sheboygan County deputies were on duty Saturday.

They came equipped with riot gear, including helmets and batons, they said, but didn't expect trouble.

"It's been great," Spence said.

Richard Daley, 62, of Green Bay, who retired from the Madison Police Department after 20 years on the force, came back to Madison on Saturday "supporting the fact that we all see this as union busting and wage suppression. This is a long-term, downward spiral of wages for working families."

Wausau police Detective Cord Buckner, 42, stoically stood in the cold with an American flag wrapped around his face and holding a "Cops for Labor" sign as thousands of demonstrators marched around the Capitol.

"I'm here to support all the unions' rights," he said. Saturday was his fourth day demonstrating in Madison since protests began, even though members of his union, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, won't be affected directly by Walker's bill.

"The aggregate effect on public employees will affect police unions eventually," he said.

And it's not just the police.

Here are the firefighters: