By Paula Reed Ward
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police Chief Cameron McLay said late Sunday that the department will have sufficient staffing to work an upcoming concert at Heinz Field.
In recent weeks there have been talks that the city police bureau couldn’t get enough officers to sign up for the May 31 Beyonce concert.
Law enforcement officials across the country have either boycotted Beyonce’s “Formation” Tour or condemned the performer for what they call inflammatory lyrics with anti-police sentiments.
However, in a statement released late Sunday, Chief McLay said the department has sufficient volunteers for secondary employment, off-duty officers to work.
“There will be no on-duty officers assigned to work in the concert venue or officers forced to work that venue,” he said.
The statement goes on to say that facilitating the flow of traffic is a “foundational responsibility” for the bureau, and that the police will ensure there are sufficient officers deployed to deal with traffic.
He said the department wants “to ensure citizens do not experience unreasonable traffic congestion or compromised traffic safety consistent with that responsibility.”
Chief McLay said he will forward a detailed breakdown of resources for traffic control to city officials, and they can decide what costs to absorb and which should be forwarded to the concert venue.
“The police will focus on keeping this community safe while others handle the billing aspects of such events. It is the City’s position this manner of scheduling is consistent with the collective bargaining agreement with the FOP,” the statement says.
Copyright 2016 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette