Meet Retired Chief John Neal, NA Session #235
Retired Chief John Neal discusses how Mississippi’s legislation affects off-duty law enforcement and how Off Duty Management can help streamline the process.

Navigating Mississippi Legislation: Partnering with Off Duty Management to Optimize Off-Duty Job Programs 

Navigating Off-Duty Job Programs in Law Enforcement
At some point in your leadership career, you’ve likely faced the challenge of managing your agency’s off-duty job program. Whether referred to as extra duty jobs, paid details, overtime, or secondary employment, off-duty assignments are inevitable in law enforcement. Effective navigation of administrative and liability challenges is crucial for leaders. Staying informed about legislation, especially surrounding Mississippi off-duty jobs, and adopting strategies can help execute an effective off-duty program.

Legislative Changes Affecting Mississippi Off-Duty Jobs
In 2006, the Mississippi Legislature passed a law allowing law enforcement officers to use government property for private security jobs, including uniforms and firearms. The law expanded in 2021 to include marked police vehicles, and in 2023, further changes permitted the Department of Public Safety to use uniforms, vehicles, and firearms for private security services with local authority approval. 

Challenges in Managing Off-Duty Work
While these laws benefit law enforcement, obtaining approval for off-duty work is often time-consuming and burdensome. Governing boards must approve each officer individually, complicating the management of off-duty assignments. Receiving approval from your governing board demands careful planning, time, and additional resources, with no assurance that officers will be available to fulfill off-duty service requests. 

Benefits of Partnering with Off Duty Management
My experience with Off Duty Management highlights the advantages of having off-duty experts manage administration, implement software technology, and provide robust insurance coverage – all at no cost to your agency or officers. We integrate your agency’s off-duty policies and procedures into the management of your program.

Insurance Coverage
General Liability Insurance
Worker’s Compensation
Coverage for agency vehicles
Coverage for agency equipment
Coverage for cyber crime

A Full-Service Solution
It is paramount to have a solution that adheres to an agency’s policies and procedures, provides accountability for officers, and ensures transparency for the businesses and community organizations that hire law enforcement officers. Off Duty Management offers a comprehensive, full-service solution at no cost to the agency or officers.  

By implementing a robust off-duty program, you can enhance the effectiveness of your law enforcement agency while providing valuable protection for your community businesses and organizations. 

Ensuring Legal Protection for Off-Duty Officers
With over 34 years in law enforcement, I recognize the protocols put in place to address concerns about the risks of officers working off-duty. When an agency partners with Off Duty Management, its police officers are covered by comprehensive insurance, including general liability, workers’ compensation (if needed), coverage for agency vehicles, equipment, and cybercrime.  

This industry-leading insurance ensures all officers are legally protected, and job assignments are coordinated through Off Duty Management, allowing chiefs to pre-approve off-duty assignments and officers to work only approved jobs within agency policy. 

To learn more about Mississippi legislation, how it affects your agency, and how I can help alleviate some of the burden, please contact me at Jneal@offdutymanagement.com or reach out on LinkedIn.  

Written by John Neal, Retired Chief of Ridgeland MS PD, FBINA #235