$50K bill for Westboro demonstrations

The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan police department paid nearly $50,000 in salaries for officers assigned to the Westboro Baptist Church demonstrations last month, said a department spokesman.

About 75 percent of that total was in overtime, and the rest was for beat officers who were reassigned, said Julian Miller.

The figure did not include other expenses, such as supplies and helicopter patrols, said Miller.

Chuck Mobley