Records show that Illinois police departments in suburban St. Louis spent about $120,000 on overtime and riot protection gear in response to riots in Ferguson, Missouri.
The Belleville News Democrat filed Freedom of Information Act requests with multiple southern Illinois police departments for expenses related to the riots. The unrest broke out after a grand jury didn't indict a white police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager.
At least $75,000 was spent on police overtime and $45,000 was spent on new riot protection equipment.
Major Tom Knapp of the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department says police "didn't want to be caught off guard." Records show the agency spent nearly $17,000 on overtime for 52 deputies.
