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Boston Spent $450K On Police OT For Celtics Games

Boston spent nearly $450,000 on police overtime for Celtics victory celebrations that never happened.

The city deployed thousands of officers in areas of the city where fans gathered in bars to watch games 6 and 7 of the NBA Finals on June 15 and 17. Had the Celtics won either game, they would have claimed their 18th NBA title.

Instead, the team lost on the road in both games and fans headed home subdued.

The heavy police presence was intended to maintain order after previous championship revelry had turned deadly.

Matthew Cahill, executive director of the Boston Finance Commission, tells the Boston Herald the team ought to pick up part of the security tab.

A police spokesman says the city has always paid for security at victory celebrations.

This program aired on July 16, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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