Montgomery Police will no longer provide off-duty security services for nightclubs
Montgomery AL July 23 2021 For years, the Montgomery Police Department has required nightclub owners to hire off-duty officers to provide security.
That’s about to change.
A health insurance issue and a lack of volunteer officers have led city leaders to explore new options. Members of the Montgomery City Council said Tuesday they plan to craft an ordinance with the goal of creating more strict security requirements that don’t rely on police to provide security.
Interim Police Chief Ramona Harris told council members she endorses a move away from using officers to provide security.
Until this summer, owners of clubs that allow alcohol had to hire one officer for every 50 people. But officers signed up for that duty on a volunteer basis, and Harris said sometimes there weren’t enough volunteers. Those who did volunteer were not covered by MPD’s health insurance during the shift, which recently led MPD to stop offering the shifts.
“We’re looking at what’s the best interest of everyone,” Harris said. “… When we don’t have to do that and there’s another option, that’s one of the things we want to bring to the table.”
Councilman Glenn Pruitt proposed a moratorium on opening any new clubs in Montgomery until that insurance issue is resolved, and he also proposed raising the pay for volunteer officers who work those shifts.
Harris said a team of six officers and a supervisor would work overtime to check on clubs and other venues to ensure they are complying with safety regulations as part of a wider safety patrol across the city. She said that would prioritize public safety as a whole instead of dedicating people to a specific club.
“I would rather have the additional officers, if we have to mandate (overtime), for the city of Montgomery and not for particular establishments,” Harris said.
Councilman Glenn Pruitt said he’d prefer for police to work out the insurance issue and then continue to provide direct security. He proposed a moratorium on opening any new clubs in Montgomery until that insurance issue is resolved, and he also proposed raising the pay for volunteer officers who work those shifts.
Pruitt said he was opposed to officers on overtime patrolling clubs — instead of club owners paying that fee — and that he would rather have officers onsite at each club than a security car “sitting out there with yellow lights.”
The council voted down Pruitt’s proposed moratorium 7-1 with Councilman Brantley Lyons abstaining.
Harris said few problems had been reported at city nightclubs during the past few months, even as police stopped working direct security shifts. MPD Chief of Operations Jennifer Reaves said owners have been communicating more with police in recent months and working to abide by guidelines.
“We’re not trying to get out of the business of handling the issues with clubs,” Harris said. “Now, we’ve empowered them to understand the law, to understand the ordinance, know what they need to have in place… We still want to hold that support role, but a support role for public safety vs. being directly responsible for club business that’s happening on their property.”
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