Afr'Am Fest ordered to pay officers

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A judge in Norfolk General District court on Friday ordered the organizers of Afr'Am Fest to pay 51 police officers and sheriff's deputies the $43,000 they are owed for working security at the three-day festival.

The officers sued the private promoter, Southeastern Virginia Arts Association, Inc. (SEVAA), saying it was refusing to pay them for working at this year's event, which was held Memorial Day weekend. The officers say they've been trying to get their paychecks from Afr'Am organizers for the last two months, but they've only been getting the run-around.

After the judge ordered Afr'Am and SEVAA to pay up, WAVY.com's Mary Kay Mallonee tried to talk with Afr'Am head Donna Smith outside of court, asking Smith, "Are you going to pay the officers and deputies the money you owe them? They worked the hours, why would you not pay them?"

Smith refused to answer Mallonee's questions except to say, "Would you just leave me alone at this time."

Peter G. Decker, III, attorney for the officers and deputies told WAVY.com the officers and deputies had signed contracts with festival organizers for a specific pay rate.  "They certainly do deserve to be paid, I mean they work two and three jobs over and above the law enforcement duties that they have to support their families.  They had a contract. They deserve to be paid and that's what this is all about," said Decker.

He added that before Friday's hearing SEVAA offered to pay the officers and deputies 13 cents on the dollar. The offer was quickly rejected.

WAVY.com spoke with Afr'Am Festival director Mark Madison back in June.  At the time, Madison said they were not refusing to pay the officers. He said they were still working on getting the payments processed and out to the officers.

Event organizers have 10 days to appeal the judge's ruling.