Recent Headline Review – June 2022
Estimated Read Time: 3 minutes
06/23/2022 Officers Restricted from Working Extra-Duty Jobs At Bars
Officers have been prevented from working some off-duty jobs which affect local businesses in the area. The department’s secondary employment policy gives the Chief authority to stop officers from working extra-duty jobs for any employer or business deemed inappropriate.
Agency Blind Spot:
While restricting officers from working off-duty in certain establishments and situations can be a wise practice, it can also add an undue amount of work to agencies managing their own programs. Agencies without a third-party administrative provider can find themselves spending increased time and taxpayer dollars on the workforce required to enforce all rules and restrictions. Administrators should review centrally-administered programs which provide more program control and decreased cost.
06/29/2022 Off-Duty Officer Dies After Getting Hit During Crash
An off-duty officer was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was working an off-duty traffic control job. The driver was speeding at 2 am when the officer was struck by the vehicle. The driver has been arrested and charged with intoxication and manslaughter.
Agency Blind Spot:
The death of an officer is a tragedy for their community, their fellow officers, their agency, and most importantly their family. Agencies must be aware of the liability coverage details or lack thereof for their off-duty program so in the case of a death while working they can ensure an officer’s family is supported.
07/07/2022 Officer Pleads Guilty To Theft By Deception In Work Fraud Scheme
A police officer pleaded guilty to theft by deception involving an off-duty work fraud scheme. It is reported that the officer organized and managed other officers to work off-duty while technically on-duty for their agency.
Agency Blind Spot:
Double-dipping is one of the most common incidents that lead to off-duty headlines. Many agencies do not have proper safeguards in place to detect double-dipping in a timely manner or to prevent it entirely.