SAN DIEGO -- "American Idol" hopeful Adam Lambert received the royal treatment during his recent homecoming to San Diego.

Lambert's visit came complete with police escorts, but some San Diego police officers questioned whether that was the best use of police overtime, especially during tight budget times.

The San Diego Police Department gets more than 700 special events requests for police annually, mostly from the community but sometimes from the entertainment industry.

At a time when some police officers said it is tough to get overtime, the Lambert visit made at least one officer question the department's priorities.

Lambert visited San Diego and his alma mater, Mt. Carmel High School, last week. But some officers expressed anger that in tight budget times several officers were assigned to escort him around the city.

One police source -- who wished to remain anonymous because he feared for his job -- told 10News it was a wasted of police overtime.

He said, "Child abuse detectives can't get overtime to interview parents as they get off work. Detectives can't get overtime to work their cases. Yet we're paying for 11 motor officers to work overtime for events like this."

San Diego Police Department Chief William Lansdowne said there were actually eight officers assigned and the city will not foot the bill.

The San Diego Film Commission Foundation will pay labor costs estimated at more than $6,000, 10News learned.

A representative for the commission said the money is well spent, as there is a 7-to-1 return on the investment with the attention and money it puts into San Diego's economy.

As for the officers who argued against the use of officer overtime for Lambert, they said they don't have an issue with the singer. They said the bigger issue is that crime-fighting priorities are out of whack.

However, Lansdowne disagreed and said, "Well, we have lots of money. We got $17.5 million to pay for investigations."

Lansdowne added that those officers assigned to escort Lambert were still able to answer calls without being taken off the event, so it had little impact on police resources.