Chase the Ace in Sydney sees 20 police officers assigned for security

An unprecedented jackpot for a local charity, and larger and larger crowds, have prompted organizers of Sydney's Chase the Ace to take extra security measures at its ticket venues.

The Ashby Legion and the Horizon Achievement Centre, who are co-ordinating the joint fundraiser, have hired a private security company and partnered with Cape Breton Regional Police.

"I think it comes down to crowd control," said Stephen Tobin, the organizer of Chase the Ace in Sydney.

"It gives people peace of mind, to be able to see that presence there at all of our nine sales locations."

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20 officers assigned

The police service has assigned 20 officers to Chase the Ace, both for security and traffic control.

"We have four officers working at the Ashby Legion and we have two officers at every outside venue," said Cape Breton Regional Police Supt. Walter Rutherford.

"We are getting monies from the Ashby Legion to help defray some costs."

Rutherford said what isn't covered by the Ashby Legion is coming out of the police budget. The Chase the Ace assignment is part of normal operations when big events take place and extra resources are needed, he said.

Big events not always planned

"There is a cost to the municipality with that, but that comes with public safety, when there are big events in the community that aren't always planned for when we budget each year," Rutherford said.

"We, as a police service, are responsible for public safety in this community and we'll do that according to the plans that we make."

Rutherford wouldn't say how much has been spent to keep 20 officers assigned to the fundraiser week after week. He says those figures will be released when the game is over.

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The next Chase the Ace draw with its projected jackpot of $2.6 million will be in two weeks, on May 7.

Organizers say they're considering moving the game to a single location for the draw. Centre 200 in downtown Sydney is one of the locations being looked at, they said.