It looks like negotiations between the Miami Beach City Commission and cops needs a Hail Mary.
The two sides butted heads at a city commission meeting Wednesday and some hoped they could hammer out a deal that would make sure there is a major police presence at Super Bowl events, but things aren't looking good.
Cops are protesting outside the City Commission Chambers and inside tempers have already started flaring.
"We will not come to work any details or do any voluntary work between now and the Super Bowl. We will not be there!" Police Union attorney Mark Richard warned the commission.
The fight, as it always seems to be in these cases, is over pay. Miami Beach police have been working without a labor contract for months and they decided the Super Bowl was the perfect opportunity to force the city to bend to their demands.
But the sides seem far apart on a deal. Negotiators for both sides thought they had reached an agreement late last week, but the deal was rejected by the rank and file.
That puts security at the dozens of Super Bowl parties and events on South Beach in a precarious situation. Many of the command staff were forced to step from behind a desk and patrol events for the Pro Bowl to keep staffing levels up.
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Even the police chief was seeing walking the beat this past weekend.
If cops reject any off duty details, the boys in blue on duty will likely be overrun by the hundreds of thousands of tourists looking to have a good time.
The NFL and other event sponsors had agreed to pay for using South Beach cops as security at a higher rate than the city pays, but cops want the city to pay with taxpayer dollars.
Some may already be skeptical about coming out during Super Bowl parties because of recent bad press involving violence and tourists, highlighted by the murder of a former Playboy model during New Year's celebrations.
