Due to public safety concerns, heavy traffic and protesting outside of Graham, Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors (the funeral home holding the body of Boston bombing suspect) the city of Worcester, MA has been required to provide extra police protection.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon the city said it wants to stick the funeral home with the bill, which would tally to $30,000 at the end of the day Tuesday.
Statement released Tuesday afternoon by the city of Worcester, MA:
The Worcester Police Department has received several inquiries regarding the police details at the scene in front of Graham, Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors (838 Main Street). The priority of the Worcester Police Department is to maintain safety throughout the community.
There were several public safety issues in the vicinity of the funeral home that required our immediate attention. The department has addressed these concerns by handling the heavy traffic flow, preserving the peace, maintaining pedestrian safety and directing the media during several press conferences at the location.
Since Friday, officers have been working to direct the heavy flow of traffic in and around the area of the funeral home. Officers have attempted to keep traffic moving at a reasonable pace in an effort to avoid traffic congestion on Main Street. At times, there have been peaceful protests and large gatherings of onlookers requiring police presence. Pedestrian safety has also been a concern in this area due to the increase in traffic and crowds. Officers have taken several safety measures to ensure that pedestrians are safe while crossing the street and walking in the area. The Worcester Police Department will continue to monitor the situation and will direct resources as needed.
Worcester Police officials are negotiating with funeral director, Peter Stefan, about funding the costs associated with maintaining public safety outside of the funeral parlor. Currently, the City of Worcester is funding the expense. The cost of police details at this location is estimated to reach $30,000 by the end of today. The police department believes that the cost of public safety should be incurred by the funeral home.
Ultimately, the Worcester Police Department has the responsibility of keeping the community safe.
[via: Worcesterma.gov]
Photo credit: Betty Jenewin/Associated Press
