The city of Newark, New Jersey, spent more than $187,000 in police overtime to work the funeral for hometown star Whitney Houston. CBS New York reports that nearly 200 police officers were stationed at the New Baptist Church, where the service was held, as well as at the funeral home and at a private family gathering later in the day at the Newark Club.
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous when you have people who are unemployed and homeless, people walking up and down the streets," Newark resident Quincy Ruffin told CBS regarding the money that was reportedly spent, adding that Houston's family "should have been the ones providing for" the additional security.
Newark Councilwoman Mildred Crump defended the decision to utilize added "barriers and officers of the law" by saying it was necessary to protect the thousands of people who had converged on the area where the funeral was taking place.
"If they had not been there someone may have been trampled, seriously hurt," Crump said.
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