Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Victoria police spent $141,000 in overtime for Olympic torch relay

VICTORIA — Victoria police bore the lion's share of security costs for south Vancouver Island police departments during last month's 2010 Olympic torch relay launch, newly released figures show. Victoria spent $141,000 on overtime alone. Finalized costs, such as those for officers' meal allowances and stables for Vancouver police horses, are still being tallied. Other districts, excluding those policed by the RCMP, had combined overtime costs of $27,500. RCMP figures are not available. Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton said Victoria's higher costs were to be expected with the launch taking place in the city. He said the costs have already been absorbed into the police service's operating budget. The overtime bill included $88,000 for the day of the torch relay itself. Training, intelligence gathering and planning leading up to Oct. 30 event, as well as the post-event wrap-up added another $53,000 of overtime to that bill.

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