ALPENA — Northeast Michiganders needn’t be frightened by the possibility of riots similar to those that led to the breach of the U.S. Capitol today, according to Alpena police leaders.

While residents may have strong political feelings this year, police have seen no signs of brewing local protests, according to Alpena Police Chief Joel Jett.

Though some Northeast Michiganders may say things others find distasteful, bewildering, even disgusting, they have the right to express themselves, as long as they do so appropriately, the police chief said.

“When it becomes criminal,” Jett said, “then it’s like anything else, and we’ll step in.”

In recent years, police have had to take action to address the behavior of only a handful of people out of thousands who demonstrated at local rallies Jett said.

“That’s why we have organized law enforcement,” Jett said. “To keep people safe. We take an oath to stand between you and the bad people.”

Lt. John Grimshaw, Michigan State Police-Alpena Post, said police haven’t seen a level of fanaticism in Northeast Michigan that would lead to riots or violent protests, but “everybody has to watch,” he said.

State Police operations centers monitored the activity in Washington, which Grimshaw said at least began as a planned and organized demonstration that included at least one bus of people from Traverse City.

If violence were to erupt locally, police would “absolutely” be ready to handle it, Grimshaw said.

“I don’t have any reason to believe we would not be able to handle anything that comes our way up here in Northeast Michigan,” he said.