Good security costs money.
Probably no one knows that better than New South Wales Police Commissioner Peter Ryan, who served as the head of security for the 2000 Summer Games.
During a meeting with reporters Friday afternoon at Utah Olympic Public Safety Command (UOPSC) offices, Ryan said he's heard rumblings that Salt Lake City might not be spending enough on Olympic security.
"I do know that they do feel that they do need more (money) and I don't think it's an exaggerated claim," Ryan said. "Good security does not come cheap."
This year alone, Australia spent 160 million Australian dollars on security for the Games, Ryan said.
The latest budget projections for UOPSC are hovering around $25 million, according to David Tubbs, Utah Olympic public-safety coordinator. But it's hard to compare security costs between Sydney and Salt Lake, since Summer Games feature more venues, athletes and visitors than Winter Games.
Tubbs said UOPSC isn't worried about insufficient funds for Olympic security in 2002.
"The bottom line is we're trying to come up with an efficient budget to provide security for the Games," Tubbs said. "We still need equipment and supplies, and we're working on that with the federal government and with SLOC."
UOPSC announced Friday that three state agencies officially agreed to send a total of more than 400 officers to join the Olympic security force.
UOPSC is still looking for roughly 2,000 of the 3,500 officers needed for the Olympics, but several agencies are beginning to warm to the idea of sending volunteers, Tubbs said.
It's that "Olympic spirit" that Ryan said captured Sydney when the Games there began. Criticism leading up to the Olympics turned to national pride and left the enormous Olympic crowds relatively well-behaved.
Ryan described one incident in which 100 protesters planned to delay the Olympic torch procession, but the massive crowd of spectators already on scene threatened action if they did. The spectators eventually left without incident, Ryan said.
"In 37 years of policing, I've never seen it," Ryan said.
Ryan and Olympic security commander Paul McKinnon are both in Utah for the weekend to offer their help to UOPSC. They'll leave today after touring several venues and meeting with UOPSC officials.
"We intend to tap all their brain power that we can," said Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard, UOPSC's interim leader replacing the retiring Craig Dearden.
Overall, Ryan and McKinnon applauded UOPSC's preparations so far.
"I think Salt Lake City is well-prepared," Ryan said. "We know because we spoke to officers here."
E-mail: djensen@desnews.com