Newton Police Prep For Election Day Fallout

NEWTON, MA — As communities across the region are preparing for the last day of the election Tuesday, Newton Police have a plan should some of the rallies planned for Boston spill over into the Garden City.

"We have been watching the ballot box, we're working before the election," said Interim Police Chief Howard Mintz.

Come Election Day, part of the plan is pretty similar to previous years, including security of the ballot boxes while they're at the polling places and while they're transported to city hall. Police also escort the election commissioner when he goes to the different polling places, Mintz said.

Nationwide, Massachusetts is the only state that requires a police presence at the polls. So this year, as in previous years, voters will see an officer posted at the polling locations.

Officers have the power to arrest anyone who disobeys the election official, or who brings weapons to the school property. Newton Police have not had to make any such arrests in recent memory.

But 2020 is a different year than most, and so is this election, he said.

"In addition to that, we do have a plan to really have a low-key non-confrontational presence for any protesters," he said, noting that the plan involved letting them exercise their first amendment rights in a peaceful manner.

If something more serious broke out?

"We'll be prepared," he said.

Next week, like many police departments across greater Boston, Newton will have all hands on deck, no officers are permitted to take a day off in an effort to be able to respond quickly in Newton or to come to the aide of other nearby communities who may call for backup.

This week officers have been reviewing election laws, will be deploying some extra bicycles for officers on the streets.

"We're monitoring intelligence, and right now there are no credible threats," he said. "But that could change in a moment's notice, and so we're not anticipating, but we will have the people and the resources available to deal with it, and also prepared to provide mutual aid to other jurisdictions."

Not only are Newton police watching Tuesday closely, but he said they'd be watching what happens in the following days.

"We certainly feel the city will be safe," he said, "And we encourage people to vote and think they will have a rewarding voting experience on Tuesday."

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin asked communities to step up security after a ballot box was set ablaze in Boston over the weekend.

"What's kind of alarming to me is ... the preparation we've put into this election we've never had to put in before," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said this week. "I don't think any mayor before me, or I certainly wasn't asked in 2016, what's your election safety plan?"

Newton hasn't seen the looting or property destruction that Boston saw.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how .