SOP for off duty felony arrests??

[jarnld]

Hey there guys and gals.

I've gotten the green light to start as a deputy in a large county in Georgia. I have not received the dept's SOPs yet so I thought I would ask about your SOPs regarding felony arrests while off duty. (Please note - Im not trying to be 'that gung ho FNG', as I am NOT planning to actively search for crimes occurring while off duty. So please dont flame me I usually have my kids with me anyway so being a witness is good for me...But assuming I had to react...)


Suppose I witness someone committing a crime and I am required to intervene while off duty (I know this to be required in my to be dept.). I get the situation under control, etc, etc, the suspect is now in cuffs...would I call 911? Another officer I know to be working? What is the procedure you follow with your dept.? I would assume just call 911 and tell them your a deputy badge number and the situation like anyone else...right??

Does one still have all the enforcement capabilities while off duty? Use of force, etc, etc,?

Just trying to gain a little insight. Thanks all!

Just trying to educate myself a little more on this topic. Thanks - stay safe

[Curt581]

These questions, and many others, will be answered by your academy instructors.

While some of us here could provide good information, it may not be in line with your particular department's policies and procedures.

[TX-LEO]

Suppose I witness someone committing a crime and I am required to intervene while off duty

Only your agency can tell you that. I don't and wont get into details of what I can and can't do off-duty. You need to ask this on the verified side when and if you join us there.


With that said, if you usually have your children anyways, you wont, and shouldn't get involved in anything except to be, as you said, a witness. Nobody here would criticize you when you have your family present and the threat is not directed towards you or your family or puts your family at risk of serious bodily injury or death.

[jarnld]

Fair enough! Thanks guys. Stay safe as always...

[mcsap]

Off duty arrests are just plain dangerous.

You have no backup, handcuffs ? , no uniform , witnesses and the perp won't know who you are, responding police officers won't know who you are and YOU may get proned out.

Avoid an off-duty arrest if at all possible and take care of the family FIRST.

Just call 911 nad be a superb witness.

[retdetsgt]

Off duty arrests are just plain dangerous.

You have no backup, handcuffs ? , no uniform , witnesses and the perp won't know who you are, responding police officers won't know who you are and YOU may get proned out.

Avoid an off-duty arrest if at all possible and take care of the family FIRST.

Just call 911 nad be a superb witness.

+1

Unless someone is in eminent danger of losing their lives, stay out of it.

When I worked uniform, any time I got a call about "assist an off duty officer", I figured it was going to be a can of worms. And I can't recall a single incident when I was wrong. Too often, off duty heroes escalate a situation rather than solve it.

I've seen a couple of situations when I had my family with me and my first and only priority was to get them OUT of danger. Pulling a gun would only draw fire towards me and possibly them. Neither of the incidents were so important that risking their or my life was that important. When I'm away from them and on the clock, that's different. But I don't buy the 24/7 on duty crap. It's a freaking job, not some calling from God.

[Jay7376]

Suppose I witness someone committing a crime and I am required to intervene while off duty (I know this to be required in my to be dept.).

I have never heard of any department REQUIRING an off-duty officer to intervene. If that were the case, I would assume that the officer is getting paid 24/7 and making a hell of a lot of overtime.

Anyone have policies which require this?

[retdetsgt]

I have never heard of any department REQUIRING an off-duty officer to intervene. If that were the case, I would assume that the officer is getting paid 24/7 and making a hell of a lot of overtime.

Anyone have policies which require this?

Over time, I've seen several people post that they are required to act, but when asked to produce their dept's written policy, we don't hear anymore about it.

My dept will consider you on duty the moment you decide to intervene for purposes of liability, but we are discouraged from doing it unless a life is in eminent danger.