Since the protests against Gov. Scott Walker began weeks ago, about 16 people have been arrested.
But of those, Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs pointed out Friday, seven or eight were people who demanded to be arrested.
Tubbs and his boss, Mike Huebsch, secretary of the state's Department of Administration, held a news conference in the Capitol Friday afternoon, to give details on ongoing access to the building and address problems that have happened, including a discovery of live ammunition at the building Thursday.
That the protests have involved so many and remained so peaceful, Huebsch said, "is an indication of the fact that we can strongly disagree and not be disagreeable."
Huebsch opened the conference by praising Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Albert for the clarity of his ruling Thursday, when he ordered the Capitol to be opened to the public during regular business hours, but also ordering protesters to vacate the building at closing.
He said that Albert "recognized the need to balance free speech with the need to conduct the people's business" in the ruling. He added, "We would hope to go back to the point where the Capitol does not see constant demonstrations."
In the coming days, the Department plans to allow general access to the building, with entrance generally being granted through the North and South Hamilton doors. State employees and the disabled are allowed to enter at Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Outdoor protests have generally been occurring on the King and State Street sides, he said. Electronic wanding of all people will continue in the near future, Huebsch said.
Spontaneous protests must remain on the ground floor of the Rotunda, however, protesters can apply for permits to protest in other parts of the building, he said.
Huebsch defended the lockdown of the building that occurred earlier in the week, saying "We needed to regain control of a building that had become occupied. The judge was accurate in saying DOA was caught off guard by the size and spontaneity of the crowds."
Walker had been regularly "briefed" on the situation at the Capitol and had "offered advice," Huebsch said, but "for the most part he has turned over operations to us."
Huebsch also revised the $7.5 million estimate for damage that signs taped around the Capitol have caused -- lowering it to as low as $350,000.
He said the higher estimate was made under the impression that restoration specialists would need to be employed. It has not yet been determined if that's the case. "It could very easily be $7.5 million if damage has occurred," he said.
Notices have gone out telling people not to remove signs or posters, Huebsch said, because if it is done incorrectly, it could cause damage. The posters will be made available later in case anyone wants to pick them up. Huebsch added that the Wisconsin Historical Society has expressed interest in preserving some of the signs.
Tubbs did not release any more information about live .22 caliber shells that were found in the building Thursday. A similar discovery was made on Thursday in the City County Building down the street.
Madison Police spokesman Joel DeSpain said he's been asked not to release the kind and the amount of ammunition found in the city building. The bullets -- not a type used by law enforcement -- were found in a stairwell near the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard side of the building and in a men's room.
No spent rounds or guns were discovered. Neither have any threats been made. A Dane County Sheriff's deputy and a bomb dog later made a sweep of the building, but found nothing, DeSpain says.
DeSpain said they don't know whether ammunition found in the City County Building on Thursday was left accidentally or was part of a scare tactic, or whether it has any connection to the on-going protests against Gov. Scott Walker's budget.
"We don't either know why they were placed here or why they were dropped here," DeSpain says. "We had no information either way to connect it to the protest movement or not connect it."
