Police Union: Stan Kroenke Should Pay Full Costs For Security At Rams Home Games

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Police Protective League wants Stan Kroenke, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Rams, to pay the full cost for necessary police services at L.A. Rams home games as long as the team plays in Los Angeles.

"The estimated cost to provide police protection at Rams games is approximately $2 million a year," LAPPL spokesman Dustin DeRollo said in a statement.

"Thus far the Rams have not agreed to pay their fair share of policing costs and this will drain police coverage in other areas of our city," DeRollo said. "The LAPPL is also urging Mayor Eric Garcetti to reject any requests for sweetheart deals funded by the taxpayers for the NFL team."

The temporary location of the Rams in Los Angeles has created a need for more than 200 police officers to ensure adequate safety at every home game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, De Rollo said. A stadium scheduled to open in 2019 is being built for the Rams in Inglewood.

"This comes at a time when the LAPD has critically low staffing levels and the city of Los Angeles has experienced a dramatic increase in violent crime and property crime over the past two years," DeRollo said.

The LAPPL union represents the more than 9,900 sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department.

A Rams spokeswoman says the team has meetings already scheduled with LAPD and USC officials to find solutions that work for everyone.

"The safety of fans attending our games is a priority and we are appreciative of the great team at LAPD and other agencies that will be part of our gameday security operation for helping ensure a safe environment for our guests," Joanna Hunter of the Rams said in a statement.

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