Recent Headline Review – April 2022
Estimated Read Time: 3 minutes
Our April 2022 Headlines Review covers the results of blind spots in police off-duty programs. These common blind spots include injuries without workers’ compensation coverage and misrepresentation of hours. When incidents happen with off-duty officers, they often end up in the headlines. By looking through the incidents below, you can get a better idea of how to mitigate risk for your officers.
4/6/22 Chief Accused of Self-Approving Almost $300,000 in Overtime Pay
A Chief was put on leave when an investigation found that he had approved hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime for himself over the course of two years. The agency leader states the payments were attributed to covering shifts due to COVID.
Agency Blind Spot:
Whether off-duty, special events, or overtime, agencies must have job distribution protocols and reporting capabilities in place to increase transparency and quickly delineate between double-dipping and legitimate compensation to protect officers, agencies, and taxpayers.
5/2/22 With Wealthy Neighborhoods Turning To Armed Private Security, Questions Raised About Accountability
Community leaders have concerns about the hiring of off-duty police officers. Some leaders believe off-duty officers have no authority to patrol the streets.
Agency Blind Spot:
When the rules of off-duty/on-duty conduct are in question, it puts officers at risk. Agencies must limit the liability risk to their officers and themself by having a robust off-duty job solution with detailed reporting and included liability coverage to ensure they are protected.
5/5/22 City Agrees To Pay Nearly $1M To Man Shot By Officer Working Off-Duty
City Council on Monday approved a $1 million settlement for a man and his family after he was shot in an incident with an off-duty police officer working security at a sporting event.
Agency Blind Spot:
One can never predict that a casual off-duty job will not become a high-risk incident. In many cases, cities and agencies may have to pay a settlement for damages incurred by any number of parties. This is why it is imperative for agencies to have off-duty job liability protection in place.