Paul D. Shinkman, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – In anticipation of the Nationals entering the MLB post season, the chief of D.C. police says she expects the team will pay for important additional security for games and celebrations.
Police Chief Cathy Lanier says the department has been working with the Lerner family, which owns the team, to prepare for the “big celebration” in the likely event the Nats enter the playoffs.
Metro should stay open late to accommodate the crowds, and the Lerners should pay for the additional police details, Lanier said while speaking on WTOP’s “Ask the Chief” program.
“We’ll ask for reimbursable details, and that will be paid for by the Nationals,” she says. “We’re still working on the finalized plans and what it’s going to cost. Once that’s done, we’re going to work with the Lerner family to get that finalized.”
These plans will accommodate more than just the immediate stadium area, she says. Police are already planning for a parade in the event of a Nats’ win, and for spontaneous celebrations in the streets.
“It’s going to be a big celebration for us here in Washington,” she says.
“We already have (the playoffs) sealed up,” Lanier says of her confidence in the team. “We know we’re going.”
The Lerners have been in a dispute with the city over who will pay the $29,500 deposit per game to keep Metro open late if the games finish after the usual Metro closing time.
Lanier would not weigh in on who should pay, but did say keeping Metro open is a security issue. The transit agency should stay open long enough for those riders to take the same mode of transportation home, she says.
Learn more in this live blog from Thursday’s “Ask the Chief” with Lanier.
WTOP’s Mark Segraves contributed to this report. Follow Paul, Mark and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
