You can expect more talk about how much security at Wake County school board meetings is costing taxpayers.
The Raleigh Police Department plans to provide the school system with an itemized breakdown of how much it cost for them to respond to the protests at the July 20 school board meeting. It could be a hefty amount considering how many police officers responded last week.
It's strictly for informational purposes as the school system won't be asked to pick up the bill. What the school system is paying for is the estimated $2,197 bill for off-duty Raleigh police officers and private security who worked last week.
Michael Evans, a Wake schools' spokesman, said they're estimating that they're paying $1,207 for the off-duty Raleigh police officers who staffed the July 20 meeting. There's also an estimated $990 cost for paying for the private security officers provided by Allied Barton Security.
With protesters warning about the possibility of more acts of civil disobedience at future board meetings, Evans said you can expect a large security presence for the foreseeable future.
There's been a lot of recriminations since the conservative Wake Community Network issued a press release last week showing that the school system had paid $14,719.39 for security at board meetings between December and April.
Since then, Evans said Wake paid $960 for off-duty Raleigh police officers and $511.49 for private security at the May 4 school board meeting. Wake paid the same amount for the May 18 meeting.
With the crowds apparently dying down, no off-duty police officers were at the June board meetings. Evans said they had paid $857.66 for private security at the June 1 meeting and $243.46 for private security on June 15.
The Wake Community Network has blamed the security costs on the Great Schools in Wake Coalition and the state NAACP stirring up unrest in the community.
GSIW has blamed the security costs on the school board majority's conduct.
Comments
Man
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 10:31 — gregishereReally? In America? Hmm. Let's make protestors against the government pay when the police put them in jail. I'm pretty sure that's a speech chiller. Are you guys Americans or fascists?
No...
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 11:21 — Bob_SconceMake them pay when they are convicted of trespassing and disturbing the peace -- the threat of those things is why the security was needed to begin with.
democracy is noisy and messy
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:08 — gregishereWe all pay taxes for the privilege of it being noisy and messy. I am glad to pay taxes for cops to show up and ensure the freedoms of the dumb-as-stump Teabaggers to march and rally. If one of them gets out of line and trashes an Obama statue, well, he can get fined for disturbing the peace or trespassing, if appropriate. However, I'm glad to pay for the cops to be there to protect their First Amendment rights. So, um, you right wing dudes... you up for Democracy or not?
Democracy, yes. Anarchy,
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:29 — CaryCurmudgeonDemocracy, yes. Anarchy, no.
HMMM...
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:01 — hmoncelleHarry_Moncelle
I was unaware that these folks had been convicted of anything? Have they been in a court of law? Did a judge rule and convict them of the charges brought by the civil authorities. Do you have inside knowledge Bob?
No...
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:35 — Bob_SconceThat part was sort of implied when CC talked about having a judge hit them with a fine. Judges don't ordinarily fine people until they've been convicted.
Fair enough, Harry.
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:28 — CaryCurmudgeonFair enough, Harry. If/when they are judged guilty, would you then deem it appropriate that they be fined to cover the security costs?
If these
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:41 — hmoncelleHarry_Moncelle
If these folks are convicted of the charges then I would support whatever the statutes state are the appropriate sanctions for the conviction. These sanctions would be decided by the court. If the court rules they should pay a fine no problem as these folks chose their choice of action and they also chose to take responsibility for the outcomes of their actions.
Joe, give me a call and let's get that beer
Now that's a good idea
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 10:19 — aquaman4life68Now that's a good idea CaryCurmudgeon!
That would be a good solution to this. How anyone doesn't see that the wild protesters and Barber and Petty ALL created an issue where the board had no choice but hire all this security to keep everyone, the board, wcpss employees, everyone in the audience, and the media safe from anything that could happen due to the heated attitudes of the protesters.
They should calculate the
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 09:38 — CaryCurmudgeonThey should calculate the full cost of security and have the judge hit the arrestees with fines to recoup all of it. I'm sure they have a rich benefactor who will cover the cost.