City Considers Allowing Off-Duty Police to Work in Bars
Would put extra officers where they are needed, at no cost to taxpayers.
Columbia, S.C.’s downtown would get a surge of police officers, paid for by bar and restaurant owners, under a proposal initiated by Mayor Steve Benjamin and being reviewed by interim Police Chief Carl Burke. The city would allow bars and restaurants to hire off-duty police officers, permitting those officers for the first time to work in businesses that serve alcohol. City officials say the move would put extra officers where they are needed, at no cost to taxpayers. The State
