Tiger Woods and President Obama played a round of golf last week during vacation for the Commander In Chief and now local law enforcement has been hit with he bill.
According to Local television station WPTV via Yahoo Sports, President Obama's trip to The Floridaian, which lasted from Feb. 15-18, had security provided by local law enforcement of at least 110 officers from two counties and cost an estimated $78,205 for taxpayers. The security from St. Lucie and Martin counties helped cover traffic issues, gates and 16 holes of the golf course.
"It doesn't matter what party you are. If you are a resident of a county that is visited by a VIP, that requires security detail, and this is the service that we provide," St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara told WPTV.
In September, law enforcement from Indian River to Martin spent $15,000 to protect the President when he came for a campaign visit.
"We don't resent doing this," Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said. "This is part of what we do. He's the president of the United States of America. It was our obligation to provide the security necessary for the president of the United States."
According to the report, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office had the most amount of officers involved, including 82 deputy officers and civilian vehicle maintenance employee that cost salaries of $58,452.21, sheriff's officials said. 30 Martin county deputies also worked the area, while Port St. Lucie police spent $2,300 in salary for six officers that provided traffic control for the President from Florida's Turnpike to Gilson Road.
Port St. Lucie Police spokesman Master Sgt. Frank Sabol said there also was a K-9 bob sniffing dog used.
"We pay him with treats," Sabol said.
When President Obama came to the area in September, he used 161 local officials despite being in the area a shorter amount of time.
"We'll adjust our spending as necessary," Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said last week. "There may be a purchase or two we have to do without."
Florida officials had to provide around the clock security for the President, which is one reason for the high price tag.
"The president requires an unusual level of security," Snyder said. "It does take a lot more planning. We have to reallocate manpower to complete the task."
