By Jennifer Inez Ward

Oakland has spent $2.9 million in police overtime for Occupy Oakland, according to recently released city documents - obtained via an Oakland Local public records request.

According to the report, as of February 27, the city has paid $3.7 million total for the cost connected to the political movement. The Oakland Public Works division, which is in charge of the maintenance work in Frank Ogawa Plaza, has cost  more than $82,000 in overtime so far. The city also has spent more than $20,000 for overtime connected to its Information Technology department.

About $600,000 was spent on "operations and maintenance," which includes costs connected to the short-lived private security services for the plaza and mutual aid charges from outside police agencies.

Operation and maintenance charges also lists more than $10,000 for OPD meals, water, portable toilets and car rentals. The city also lists $150 spent for "City Team Ministry Shelter."

The report also said that it is checking with its insurance carrier to see if the city can be reimbursed for any Occupy Oakland costs.

The  financial information from the report was tallied by the Oakland City Budget Director Sabrina Landreth.

Cost connected to OO has now become a hot potato issue in Oakland. Some Occupy supporters have said at recent City Council meetings that Oakland should find better ways to spend public money instead of trying to police every aspect of demonstrations. On the Oakland government side, administration officials point to the millions spent as an example of the negative effect Occupy Oakland is having on the city.

Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker has now stepped into the fray - her office announced that it has begun a campaign of suing Occupy Oakland protesters charged with vandalizing city property.

Parker on Wednesday said that Occupy demonstrator Cesar Aguirre of Elk Grove is being sued by Oakland for more than $6,000 to recover costs connected to his alleged vandalism of the OPD Internal Affairs and Recruiting office just behind City Hall.

"When the damage began in November with some of the people at the protests, we began planning to file lawsuits once we got evidence from the police ... some of that evidence is now coming in," Parker said.