Police/Fire activity(pay) for profiting company?

[T-1 Thunder]

When the Mythbusters do a stunt, and we see all these cops and fire folks on site - who is paying for that?

Are cops available like that - to be rented out by a private company for purpose of profit?

Or are we taxpayers footing the bill so that Mythbusters get their ratings, and paychecks?

Always wondered about that.

[B_wreckless]

Thats a good question.... i'd assume taxpayers pay, i cant imagine 'renting' out cops and firefighters!

[silversvs]

It all depends on the agency.

Some have preset pay scales for companies wanting to use officers' services. Others do not and look at each request on a case by case basis.

Pasadena PD has an entire unit dedicated to special events and they have a set in stone pay rate and number of officer requirement for any kind of event you can imagine. All the movie jobs, festivals, art shows, sporting events, etc, each pay for the officers to be there. They pay the overtime rate and officers sign up to work the overtime.

My agency does not charge for these extra services but we screen the requests to decide where we want to put our personnel.

[T-1 Thunder]

Very interesting. One time, they even closed down a highway because they wanted to blow up a cement truck. Everytime I see something like that I always wonder about it.

Thanks for the response!

[CnDnMax]

Very interesting. One time, they even closed down a highway because they wanted to blow up a cement truck. Everytime I see something like that I always wonder about it.

Thanks for the response!

i believe their bomb expert is retired so i guess that makes one less person.

[T-1 Thunder]

i believe their bomb expert is retired so i guess that makes one less person.

And I'm sure a lot of folks volunteer and don't mind doing so on their day off. It's fun for everyone, no doubt.

But in the back of our heads, we always wondered if we could ever "order a party of uniform" for a private fiasco. Turns out, if we're willing to pay the OT, and the cops are up to some OT - then it's a win/win for everyone involved. Pretty awesome. :thumbup

[RolnCode3]

And I'm sure a lot of folks volunteer and don't mind doing so on their day off. It's fun for everyone, no doubt.
Maybe, maybe not. There's a few reasons.

1) Would you be at work for free (even if it might be a little fun), or home with your kids or watching the football game, or whatever.

2) If officers take voluntary free O/T gigs, it discourages the agency from paying for O/T for assignments. Call it a conspiracy, or whatever, but if I can earn O/T for something, or do it for free, we'll work towards getting paid for it. If that means not showing - even for the fun stuff, for free, then people might go along with it.

Just some thoughts.

[masameet]

I've seen many SF LEOs (moto and cruiser) just sitting or standing around and doing nothing all day long except drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, shooting the breeze, and occasionally telling people to scram as film production crews went about their business a hundred or so feet away. IMO that has to be about the cushiest and boring babysitting job around.

[NorCalBusa]

In my prior life, I worked with Mythbusters all the time. I'd loan them radar and Lidar for various episodes- we did it for the product exposure (and because Carrie is hot- wonder why it was SHE that called me to borrow stuff and not one of the silly interns?). Some of the agencies I met through that were providing equipment/people as part of community relations/PR effort. We did a whole day up at the CHP academy's racetrack, and I'm certain the guys that were with us all day (2) were getting paid and of course the 3 cadets that were helping them sure were. I can't speakto whether the show in turn paid CHP, but I doubt it.

[Steve Stansb]

Agree with what is written below. Some agencies do charge a fee and then use off duty officers and firemen to handle the event! I believe that when the Myth buster's were in Oakland scaling the glass building that OPD and OFD charged for their "stand by" services. Fremont Arts & Wine Festival, pays a fee to the city for police and fire too. Event Insurances will not cover most events unless the city or county provide emergency services, ie: county fairs, rock concerts, festivals, parades and so on.


It all depends on the agency.

Some have preset pay scales for companies wanting to use officers' services. Others do not and look at each request on a case by case basis.

Pasadena PD has an entire unit dedicated to special events and they have a set in stone pay rate and number of officer requirement for any kind of event you can imagine. All the movie jobs, festivals, art shows, sporting events, etc, each pay for the officers to be there. They pay the overtime rate and officers sign up to work the overtime.

My agency does not charge for these extra services but we screen the requests to decide where we want to put our personnel.

[afm199]

Yes to the above. Typically a movie contract in Oakland will require the film maker to pay for police services that will be needed for crowd control, safety, etc.

[Mangoat]

Yes to the above. Typically a movie contract in Oakland will require the film maker to pay for police services that will be needed for crowd control, safety, etc.


And in turn, PD will assign those services to the reserve officer units work for PD for free.:rofl

Just keeding!!