LEO's Free Apartment?

[NoLimitSoldier]

My girlfriend is starting her 911 dispatcher job (just turned 18(they said they rarely have ever hired so young)) within the next few weeks and her instructor told her something kinda funny that i just had to ask to see if its true. He said that alot of apartment complexes around here (cherokee county, GA) will give you a free apartment if you like help out whenever something is wrong, always be on the look out, and park your squad car there. At first i thought he was just being a little "off" as i am sure some of the employees over there are; however i started to take notice and did see a couple cop cars parked at a few different complexes. Is this true? I mean is free coffee and mcdonalds not enough? thanks for your replies

[Toeknee112]

Gordita!!!

[Deputy757]

Yes, it's true...but it's not as simple as your post implies. If you take such a position, you will more than likely be called out all the time for barking dogs, loud music/party/tv, improper parking, and vandalism complaints. That's not to mention the occassion idiot that locks themselves out of their apartment or car. Some places are worse than others but you do earn your discounted rent.

[Ranger__101]

There also can be that small issue with department policy.

The one about receiving free or reduced prices for being a police officer.

Then again the way around that would be that you have taken a part time job providing security for the apartment complex and would have to claim the reduced rent as income. Some departments have to approve their officers part time jobs and other only require approval if there could be a conflic of interest.

[Deputy757]

Then again the way around that would be that you have taken a part time job providing security for the apartment complex and would have to claim the reduced rent as income.

But the way around the income issue is to actually pay them for the apartment and then have them cut you a check for the same amount for security services. Then you can claim what you paid them as a business expense!

[Ranger__101]

But the way around the income issue is to actually pay them for the apartment and then have them cut you a check for the same amount for security services. Then you can claim what you paid them as a business expense!

I guess that would work. That should offset the 10-99 they'll send you at the end of the year

[GoDirectly2Jail]

There's a REASON some apartments offer this service: they're crappy apartments!

They've probably had so many calls for service it'd make your head swim, and the management wants a "continual presence" on their property to try to stem the tide of trolls that they've rented to. They want you to park your unit in the lot, and they WILL call for any and everything.

NOT.
WORTH.
IT.

[chewy]

I know some places do that. When I lived in Texas I was applying at one of the Police Departments by LaPorte and a land lord at the apartment complex I was going to rent from told me that they give free rent to Police Officers with a little contract that sets up a schedule for you to "patrol" the complex like once or twice a night to look for any suspicious activities plus your number is put on a Call out list that is given to the residents of the complex incase they have any emergencies or see any suspicious activity.

[P01IC3M4N]

my friend did that. he got his face smashed in with a brick after he was called to tell a guy to turn down his music.

some of the guys i work with still do it. i've been offered, but i'd never do that. when i'm off, i'm off.

[ChesCopPodz]

I do it in my apartment complex. I get $200 off my rent per month. I basically patrol it a few times a night and deal with stuff I see, let the residents know if there is anything serious going on in the area so they can be more careful, stuff like that. Mine's a great apartment complex which maybe has one call a month in it.

[JR_23]

That would not go over well with my department...I wouldn't want to do it anyways, get waken up in the middle of your sleep for a neighbor dispute over the amount of milk borrowed :rolleyes: .

[207]

my friend did that. he got his face smashed in with a brick after he was called to tell a guy to turn down his music.

Which leads to my questions.. Who pays the medical and disability costs. And with the officer working a job "outside" the dept where does the liability fall when the SHTF?

[Nole795]

At my last department, I worked as a "Courtesy Officer" for an apt. complex that I worked. I got 50% off the rent. I had to put in a security detail permission request. My department treated the position the same as if you were working a security detail at a club or social function. As long as you were acting in a police function, and were injured you would be covered by the agency.

My complex was a ritzy area and lucky me, I did not get many calls for service, when I did, I would normally call a patrol unit to handle it.

For a single person, I though it was the greatest thing. But again, I had a great complex. The management was happy just parking my patrol car at the front of the complex for deterrance effect.

[ChesCopPodz]

I CYA'd myself on that one. The only ones who know my number is the complex office. The office is empty after 1800. Nobody but my neighbors knows exactly which apartment I live in because my building is set apart from the rest of the complex.

[spitfire]

My boyfriend, who is a cop, has lived rent free in an apartment that would go for $1300/mo, for the last 5 years. So yes, it's true. As the courtesy officer, he rarely gets called out, so it's a pretty good gig. He doesn't do patrols, in fact he really doesn't do anything except minor stuff once in a blue moon. For apartment complexes, having a courtesy officer is basically just an amenity that they can advertise. Most of the really nice apartments around here have them and it's a good deal for the officer because they really don't have to do much.

If I weren't still on probation, I'd be doing the same thing.