Mehserle Sentencing: Oakland Police Gear up for BART Officer Sentencing

OAKLAND, Calif. (CBS/KPIX/AP) Oakland city officials are preparing for possible street protests following the sentencing of former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle, who fatally shot an unarmed black man at on a train station platform.

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Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts told CBS affiliate KPIX that he expects that protests and rallies will be smaller on Friday than they were when Mehserle was convicted on July 8, but his department will "prepare for the worst-case scenarios."

Oakland City Administrator Dan Lindheim says police commanders have put resources and plans in place to respond to any major demonstrations following Friday's sentencing of Mehserle at a Los Angeles County courthouse.

Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART station on Jan. 1, 2009.

Supporters of Grant and his family plan to gather in downtown Oakland Friday afternoon to respond to the sentencing as part of an event called "A Day to Honor Oscar Grant."

"The family members are very clear that they are looking for peaceful assembly," Batts told the station.