A successful NHL playoff run by the Vancouver Canucks could cost city taxpayers more than $2.1 million in extra policing costs, says a report to Vancouver city council.

The report by Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham notes that large crowds congregate downtown along Robson Street after games, and that a "visible police presence" is needed to maintain safety.

The report details the costs of policing game by game, and round by round.

The closer the Canucks get to the Stanley Cup, the more fan interest there is and the more police are needed to keep them in line, says the report.

Police spokesman Const. Tim Fanning said all of those officers will be paid a premium for their time.

"This is all done on an overtime basis; these aren't officers that are just pulled from other areas. We can't drain resources from other parts of the city to police the downtown core after a Canucks win." 

According to the report, constables will make $67 an hour for overtime, sergeants $83 and inspectors $107.

Previous playoffs cited

Fanning said lessons were learned after the 1994 Stanley Cup riot on Robson Street after the Canucks lost the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals to the New York Rangers.

The report also references the problems experienced in Calgary and Edmonton with unruly crowds during recent playoffs in 2004 and 2006, noting the disturbances in the Alberta cities required the deployments of "enormous police resources."

The police department said it doesn't want Vancouver taxpayers to shoulder all of the burden and is calling on the B.C. government to pay the entire bill because people will be coming from all over the province to celebrate or commiserate in downtown Vancouver.

However, Solicitor General John Les said Vancouver won't get one extra dollar from the province to help pay the police overtime costs.

Les said the city can find the extra money in the $13 million in traffic-fine revenue it gets every year.
         
Fanning said a visible police presence is needed on game nights, and it will be there, no matter who ends up paying.

The Canucks are up 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final series, and play Thursday night in Vancouver against the Dallas Stars.