LAPD says overtime for Michael Jackson memorial cost $1 million

The Los Angeles Police Department said today it spent about $1 million on overtime for officers and civilian personnel handling the Michael Jackson memorial.

The number is lower than the estimated $2.5 million the LAPD expected to pay for the event. The crowds were much smaller than anticipated, and the LAPD was able to release about 1,000 officers of the 3,200-officer deployment early.

It's still unclear what  the total costs for the city will be, including traffic control and street services. It's also unclear whether the sum includes LAPD crowd control at the Jackson family compound and Forest Lawn cemetery.

Newly elected Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich told the City Council he was investigating how the city ended up on the hook for police costs surrounding the memorial.

He assured the council that his new management team was going to find out how the city got into the position of providing support for the event and how it could recoup some of the money. His staff also is  researching legislation “so we won’t be caught in this lurch again,” he said.

The city set up a website to ask for public donations to cover the city's costs for the funeral. Mayor's spokesman Matt Szabo said there have been computer problems and officials have not yet determined how much money people have donated.

-- Andrew Blankstein and Cara Mia DiMassa

Comments

[cr]

Why was there a motorcade to take family and friends to a luncheon after the services? Freeways were shut down and streets closed to the taxpayers footing the bill. That's not a funeral procession. All this had to be coordinated prior to the event but payment for services weren't. I guess the Mayor's Office thought the taxpayers weren't going to be upset. We need leaders who won't be swayed by celebrity.

[Margo]

There is a major poll running over at www.tinyurl.com/evilgood as to whether Michael Jackson was good or evil. Evil is currently in the lead! I think this poll is being recorded in some sort of record book, anyways, everybody go vote for good!

[tij]

1000 officers for $1 million - that's about $125 per hour per officer. How can that be?

If there were 50,000 people total, it cost $20 to protect one person from being hurt by another person in LA. Why would it cost $20 to protect one person?

So there were 250 officers assigned to protect each corner and beyond of the Staples Center block. I don't remember seeing that many officers. So where were they deployed?

It appeared that New York had more crowds standing and watching the screen outside than in LA. How much did NY city/Harlem spend protecting those people from each other?

LAPD did a great job but not sure where all the $1 million is going. Some employees are getting rich in the city.

[Mark]

Whoever made the ridiculous decision to deploy 3200 officers should be fired. Everyone in America knew they were overestimating crowds. Just because more than a million people entered to get a ticket doesnt mean they were going to riot and storm the city. The nervous nellies of the police department and Mayor Villaraigosa have only themselves to blame for this idiocy.

[Ethan]

I think a lot of this "overtime" was completely unnecessary! MOST of these cops are pretty much useless civil servants who are milking the system too, knowing that they are not doing anything. Just their presence alone isn't enough in my opinion to justify paying them overtime.

[Truthshedslight]

I heard the computers over at city hall have been fixed. Public donations = 0

[Clint Bradford]

Nice to see LAPD changed their tune. They grossly over-estimated the "threat" to the city - as only about 5,000 un-ticketed fans showed up. They need to acquire better intelligence-gathering techniques.

[mack]

Why were there 3000 offcers deployed

Heck on the day he DIED, 4 hours after constant television coverage there were only about 1000 people in front of the hospital

so that means 1 million fans are going to show up and stom the staples center because they didnt have tickets? who wants to stand outside in the hot sun, no tv prompters etc? Nobody,
The person who deployed 3000 officers should be fired. It is probably the star struck Mayor

[Fred]

Heads should roll - we want those who approved this use of our money out of office!

To those who state that MJ has paid a lot in taxes and thus this is justified - you are dead wrong. There is no implied or even suggested agreement that because you pay taxes that we will pick up 2-4 mill for your funeral. If so, this should apply to all that pay a lot in taxes (which it certainly does not).

I think MJ is a fantastic performer and has done great things, but we simply cannot afford this. Our politicians have a job to spend our money wisely - these are the leanest of times and this is what they choose to spend it on? We should run them out of town.

[Bart Anderson]

In response to Ethan, who called the cops "useless civil servants"...what in the world are you talking about sir? The LAPD has made tremendous strides since Bill Bratton took over as chief. This police department has to handle the second largest city in the country with thousands fewer officers than New York City. I hope you don't ever have to rely on these "useless civil servants" when your life or property are in danger.

[daniel]

Perhaps Bratton who authorized it should pay for it himself. Take it out of his pension, retirement, 401K.

[Wrong Wrong]

You guys are a joke... Try tackling your illegal immigrants to pay some taxes and you wouldn't be in this mess.. CA deserves what they are getting now.. You guys closed your eyes on illegal immigrants.... 1 billion dollars sent to Mexico last year from illegal workers... Take note.. Mexico is on to something

[Wrong Wrong]

Way to go Jackson family... Michael you deserved the royal treatment... with the way they tried to tear you down... I think they need to pay for it...

[Walter Moore]

Neither AEG nor anyone else should be charged extra for police protection. That company, its shareholders, and all the rest of us already pay taxes for that very service. To charge us twice is ridiculous, and to complain about the "burden" of a funeral memorial service is obscene and tacky. L.A. is the second-largest city in the United States. It should be able to handle the occasional gathering of mourners. That this is even an issue is an embarrassment for our city.

[Maria]

I can't believe people can't count. The Chief said he released 1,000 from 3,200. I think LAPD did the right thing being prepared with many officers. Do I need to remind people of the anarchists and gang bangers that have attended events just to cause trouble? Once something small gets out of hand its hard to gain control. All the blogs and web sites are thanking and congratulating LAPD for doing such a great job or organizing. You people are forgetting LAPD were at 5 locations, Encino, Hollywood walk of fame, Bel Air home, Hollywood mortuary, and Staples. AEG needs to pay up because they will make millions on this memorial

[detrich]

isn't it common knowledge that a significantly high percentage of police officers make well over 6 figure salaries due to depts deliberately under-hiring officers and filling shortfalls with regularly scheduled overtime across shifts? that's probably why the bill is very high...

that said, mj was neither an elected gov't official, nor an employee of any gov't agency or body. hence, the gov't and tax payer is of no obligation to subsidize any portion of his memorial.

if any civilian family or business or non-gov't organization were to hold a memorial or event of that size & scale and caused traffic control disruptions & an outpouring requirement of added police security, the family surely would receive a bill from the lapd afterwards. why should mj be any exception to this rule- esp during times of fiscal crisis in our state & city?

[D]

Hmmm. Do the Lakers pay for police control? How about the Clippers? Does anyone who rents/uses the Staples Center or the Convention Center to host an event pay the police for crowd and traffic control? If the answer to that is yes, then by all means, the city is not on the hook for this. But, if the family or AEG did not request police assistance, then why would this event at the Staples center be treated differently than any other event at the Staples Center or the Convention Center?

[Whatevs]

Just another example of how taxpayer money is wasted on the stupidity of others (read: we just did this with the Lakers!). What don't people understand about the word "recession"?! Go out and look for a job instead of milling around Downtown dwelling on entertainers/athletes that should foot their own bills but don't.

[The Village Idiot]

I donated $5 I hope it goes to the city not anyone's pocket.

[DonJMac]

I BET THE REAL PRICE IS MUCH MORE,AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE SHERIFF DEPT.THAT HAD TO DO LAPD's CITY PATROLING AND OTHER DUTIES, OVERTIME PAY, come on Chief B. give us the real tab,,we deserve it,,,,WE ARE DUMMIES.

[Lee]

I wonder how much money Michael Jackson has generated for the city and state during his career/lifetime via taxation as well as via jobs and services created/connected to things like tourism, concerts, music publishing, law firms, video production, etc. Suddenly, times are tough and the city cries and moans about having no money. Suddenly, they want to scrutinize every expenditure (except money spent on themselves, of course). This sort of scrutiny should have been applied when times were better; saving for a rainy day. Overpaid, worthless politicians are the major cause of our economic problems today. At least Michael worked for a living -- generated instead of simply drained -- which is more than you can say for the elected "leaders" down at City Hall. They are just a bunch of leaches. Let them donate to the MJ cause using money from their own, fat, taxpayers fed wallets. And kudos to the LAPD for doing a great job yesterday. I think they are worth every penny we pay them and more.

[Timray]

ahhhh the old over time game.....works well for the police and fire departments does it not....

[DonJMac]

i NOTICE THAT YOU DID NOT POST MINE,WHEN THE TRUTH HEART JUST SAY ,,OUCH AND KEEP ON GOING

[In the trenches.]

Why isn't M.J's family paying for this? I'm sure he had life insurance. Let them foot the bill.

[RICK]

TELL ME YOR KIDDING! THIS IS LOS ANGELES. HOME OF SOME OF THE BEST STARS IN THE WORLD. LA, WAKE UP. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST NOR WILL IT BE THE LAST. IF YOU MORONS KNEW HOW TO SPEND MONEY, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DONATE TO OFF SET THE SERVICES, BUT SINCE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS IN SUCH DISRAY AND OVER PAID, YOU WILL NOT GET A DIME FROM ME UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO BE A BODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO BE FISCALY RESPONSIBLE AND NOT THE LAND OF "WASTE"