CHAPTER 10. SPECIAL EVENTS: POLICE AND FIREMEN

4-10.01 Use of Policemen or Firemen at Special Events.

In any instance in which a special event or occurrence such as, but not limited to, the premiere of a motion picture, the opening of a new store or a new building, a bazaar, a wedding, a sports or athletic event, a carnival, a circus or any gathering which may attract a large number of people or which for other reasons may be or become a hazard to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare, unless attended or supervised by the Chief of Police or the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District, as the case may be, or personnel under their respective commands, or in any instance where a person, firm or corporation desires special police department services over and above the normal services provided by the Police Department or the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District, such services, if approved by the Chief of Police or the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District, as the case may be, may be provided at the expense of the applicant or person in charge of such event under the following conditions:

a. The Chief of Police or the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District, as the case may be, shall notify the person in charge of such event of the necessity of having in attendance at such event, as the case may be, policemen or firemen, and the required number of each.

b. The person, firm, organization or corporation in charge of such event and so required to, or desiring to, employ the services of the City’s police or District’s fire personnel to be in attendance thereat shall file a request for such services with the Chief of Police or the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District, as the case may be, stating the nature of the event, the approximate number of policemen or firemen requested to be in attendance and the approximate length of time such services are required or are desired, and execute a written agreement to pay the City and/or District for such special services as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

The Chief of Police or the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District, as the case may be, may approve or deny such request or increase or decrease the number of personnel assigned for such special security assignment.

c. When assigned for duty on such special security assignment, policemen or firemen, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be on regular duty under the general supervision of the Chief of Police or the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District and any officer in charge under their respective commands, and shall be entitled to any and all benefits provided by law for such personnel as members of the Police Department or Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District except that the rate of pay for such special security services shall be as set forth in this subsection. The pay for each employee thus employed during such employment shall be at the policeman’s or fireman’s regular hourly pay rate, with a four (4) hour minimum. The Chief of Police shall report to the Director of Finance the name of the person, firm, organization or corporation requesting or requiring the services of policemen, the names of the employees so employed and the number of hours of employment of each. The Director of Finance shall thereupon bill the person, firm or corporation employing such personnel for the amount paid to each, plus a reasonable sum as determined by the Director of Finance to cover workmen’s compensation charges and other administration costs. Any failure of such person, firm or corporation billed for services of such personnel to make payment therefor shall constitute a debt due solely to the City. The payment for services of firemen shall be arranged with the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District. (§1, Ord. 831, eff. May 6, 1966, as amended by §1, Ord. 1143, eff. August 30, 1972)

4-10.02 Use of Police at Large Gatherings Requiring a Second Response.

a. Liability for the Cost of Special Security Assignment. When a large party or gathering occurs at a premises and a police officer at the scene determines that there is a threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare, the person in charge of the premises or the person responsible for the event, or if either of those persons is a minor, then the parents or guardian of that minor, will be held jointly and severally liable for the costs of providing police personnel on special security assignment over and above the services normally provided by the department. The police personnel utilized during a second or subsequent response after the first warning to control the threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare shall be deemed to be on special security assignment over and above the services normally provided by the department.

For non-residential locations, a second or subsequent response shall include responses to similar occurrences within a 30-day period following the warning to control the threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare.

b. Definitions. As used in this Section, "costs" means reasonable costs incurred by the City in making an appropriate response to a particular incident and arising directly because of the response to the particular incident. Costs may include damages to City property, injuries to City personnel, and the salaries of personnel responding to the incident.

c. Limit of Residential Liability. In no case shall a person’s liability under this Section exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for a particular incident occurring at a residential location.

d. Reservation of Legal Options. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the City from pursuing any other remedy authorized by law. (§1, Ord. 1763, eff. 3/21/91)