I think it would really help both in terms of outcomes as well as the perception of police if they gave this kind of clear description of what's going to happen. As it stands now, the curfews aren't enforced with any kind of regularity, so they just cause confusion.
Say you have opposing factions protesting each other (let’s say people seeking independence versus those who want to remain a colony somewhere). Should police just allow them to beat each other or instill some order?
I think you're getting wires severely crossed there. The National Guard is staying at hotels, but the government'll certainly be paying for that lodging.
https://dcist.com/story/20/06/03/federal-troop-lodging-at-ma...
There's a dispute over who pays (Feds vs DC):