I recently observed a police officer directing traffic in and out of the parking lot at Pusateri’s

I recently observed a police officer directing traffic in and out of the parking lot at Pusateri’s, the chi-chi groceteria on Avenue Road. Will the cops do this sort of thing for anyone, and is there a fee?

You can hire one of Toronto’s finest for pretty much any coplike duty, as long as it doesn’t involve strike breaking or acting as someone’s personal bodyguard. The good folks at Pusateri’s have been hiring police to direct traffic for the past 12 years. You’ll see them out waving their arms on Fridays, Saturdays, and some Sundays. “Pay duty,” as it’s called, is much loved by the officers themselves—not least because the wages are excellent, starting at $52 an hour. Directing traffic constitutes the lion’s share of freelance assignments, but overseeing film shoots is the most coveted gig. Not that Toronto’s finest are particularly star struck: the main draw is the high-class movie caterers given to plying them with savoury treats.