The San Francisco Giants and 49ers both count on San Francisco police officers to patrol their ballparks during games, but with budget cuts draining the resources of the department, some are rethinking that arrangement.
San Francisco Police Officers Association President Gary Delagnes told the Police Commission on Wednesday evening that the department can no longer afford to send on-duty officers to police games and the often drunken revelry that occurs before and after.
“This is ridiculous,” Delagnes said. “There is no reason in the world why these two teams can't fund the very small, as I say about the cost of a backup shortstop, to supply or to pay for security outside the Giants stadium rather than take our on-duty personal and put them out there 81 times a year.”
The City’s two sports teams both pay for officers to patrol inside stadiums during games, but after the fat lady sings, there’s often a lot more going on. Delagnes said those officers could be deployed in other parts of San Francisco.
“Calls for service are our number one priority in this city and we can’t forget that,” Delagnes said.
