Commissioner Ramsey Says All Officers Assigned To 12-Hour Shifts During Papal Visit
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphians should have no fear about public safety outside of Center City during the Pope's visit. That was the message of Wednesday's update on the event.
"We still have a city to run."
Mayor Michael Nutter says he'd like all Philadelphians to participate in the Papal visit, but he knows life will go on outside the 4.5 square mile box where events are concentrated, so the city plans to open and staff all rec centers, libraries, health centers and other facilities in the rest of the city.
"People expect and will get premier public service and public safety service especially."
The police and fire departments have cancelled all days off. Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says any officer not assigned to the papal detail will be doing 12-hour shifts, including what he called a power shift.
"So we have more resources at night, which is when we have most of our crime problems."
City officials say they haven't calculated the overtime costs yet, but they will be reimbursed by the World Meeting of Families.