PPL Center Blamed For Police OT
City officials in Allentown, Pa., pointed fingers at Global Spectrum-managed PPL Center for an overage in police overtime of $632,000 in 2014.
Police staffing outside of the arena was all overtime, assistant police Chief Keith Morris told the Allentown City Council’s Public Safety Committee March 4.
Global Spectrum pays for two to four officers stationed inside the venue, according to the Morning Call. The city reportedly spent $55,000 on police overtime in the arena’s first month of operations, but Morris told the committee it was a “learning experience,” according to the paper, and steps have been taken to keep police expenses within budget.
Councilman Jeff Glazier, who chairs the council’s Budget and Finance Committee, defended the spending, reportedly saying the council approved a budget with an overtime increase and the police department was working within it. “If the assistant chief said we had spent 25 percent of the budget, I would be alarmed,” Glazier was quoted saying. “But we’re spending within those guidelines.”
