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Pay to Play: SoBe Cops Blocking Super Bowl Security
The Miami Beach police union has voted against working off duty for the Super Bowl
The same Miami Beach cop that killed Virginian Husien Shehada was involved in a second officer involved killing just four days later.
Hundreds of thousands of people will be in town for the Super Bowl in about a week. We sure hope no one will be looking for a Miami Beach cop.
The city's police union has announced it has no plans on participating in any off duty patrols or activities until the city comes off a little more green for overtime pay for the boys in blue.
The Miami Beach Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge 8 voted unanimously Tuesday to turn down any assignments dealing with the Super Bowl off regular hours, starting Jan. 28.
That could present as possible disaster for South Beach considering all the fans expected to arrive on the beach ready to turn South Beach into an early Mardi Gras.
During major events, the city usually has the vendor - in this case, the NFL - pay for added security rather than the city paying overtime from city coffers. Not so fast my friend, said union brass, which have been feuding with the city over a new contract for months.
“There’s a lot of distrust between officers and the city,” union vice president Gus Sanchez said. “It’s unfortunate because we have a job to do and we need to protect our citizens which we’ll continue to do no matter what, that’s why we took this job.”
South Beach cops are essentially using the Super Bowl as leverage to get more money, a move that could financially cripple the city's tax payers. Good thing a lot of the NFL-sanctioned parties and events are in Broward this year.
The city, which has jumped into prevent defense mode, says residents have nothing to worry about and that they plan on resolving the issue before the Super Bowl on Feb. 7. The two sides met Wednesday and a proposal is being taken to the rank and file for vote.
"The City expects our police officers to fulfill their professional responsibilities to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors to Miami Beach," officials said in a statement.
So if you are keeping score, hundreds of thousands of party-goers - many of them from NEW ORLEANS - will be in town drinking the night away. Meanwhile, the "Protect and Serve" crew are on Super Bowl strike until the city shows them the money.
Doesn't sound like a winning situation to us.
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