Working special duty places you in jeopardy!

[TPDHellhound]

This thread brings up an interesting issue that our officers are faced with daily:

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=59448

If an officer is injured on duty, the department will carry them on "other assignment" with full pay until his/her recovery. If the officer's injury is permanent, then he can retire at 50% of his top 3 years' salary (tax free). That is usually about $25k (plus medical benefits).

If the officer is working "special duty," which means he is working security, in uniform and with all powers of arrest, he is not actually working for the agency. He is working for whatever company who hired him. If this company is minimally covered, or has limited liability insurance, etc, then the officer's working at his own risk. If the officer is injured, the department can require him to burn sick leave until he recovers. If he doesn't recover, he will only receive the minimum disability compensation allowed by the State systems. In AZ, this is $12,500, which is taxable.

Check your agency's policies regarding this issue ASAP!

(This was placed in the public forum for people who are testing to become officers to read also. It's important information!)

[CTUCop]

Not so in CT. If you're working a "road job" or other OT assignment, you're still working as a PO and on the clock. The PD is paying you. Most road jobs and other extra duty assignments require police (usually mandated by either state or local laws) to be assigned and the PD assigns the officer to work it, so you're on the clock.

Now, if you're working for a private concern (say working a concert or at an event somewheres as private security) as a second job and not being paid by the PD, that would be true. But, I don't know of any type job like that where you'd be in uniform anyway.

[TPDHellhound]

Not so in CT. If you're working a "road job" or other OT assignment, you're still working as a PO and on the clock. The PD is paying you. Most road jobs and other extra duty assignments require police (usually mandated by either state or local laws) to be assigned and the PD assigns the officer to work it, so you're on the clock.

Now, if you're working for a private concern (say working a concert or at an event somewheres as private security) as a second job and not being paid by the PD, that would be true. But, I don't know of any type job like that where you'd be in uniform anyway.

Here, we work jobs in uniform all the time. You're not "off duty" because it's sanctioned by the department, you're in uniform, have full authority, and you're expected to take enforcement action if necessary. So they call it "special duty." But you're not working for the city at the time. So you're actually employed by the company who hired you.

I refused to work special duty (and encourage all officers to refuse) based on this problem. But officers get a standard $28/hr working special duty and think its worth the risk.

[mobrien316]

In my department the paycheck comes from the Town, not from the company the cop works with.

If the cable company needs a private duty cop for a road job, they are charged (by the Town) something like $38/hour, $30 of which goes to the cop and the rest the Town keeps. The rate is much higher if a cruiser is requested, but the amount the cop gets is the same.

When we work private duty we are considered to be working for the town.

[CTUCop]

Here, we work jobs in uniform all the time. You're not "off duty" because it's sanctioned by the department, you're in uniform, have full authority, and you're expected to take enforcement action if necessary. So they call it "special duty." But you're not working for the city at the time. So you're actually employed by the company who hired you.

I refused to work special duty (and encourage all officers to refuse) based on this problem. But officers get a standard $28/hr working special duty and think its worth the risk.

I think I'd have to agree with you. If I wasn't covered by my insurance and WC, I wouldn't work a job either. Especially a road job- the way people drive around here, you'd think the traffic vest we wear says "Hit Me" instead of "Police". :mad:

[Drew27k9]

If an officer is injured on duty, the department will carry them on "other assignment" with full pay until his/her recovery.[/QUOTEQUOTE] If the officer's injury is permanent, then he can retire at 50% of his top 3 years' salary (tax free). That is usually about $25k (plus medical benefits).

If the officer is working "special duty," which means he is working security, in uniform and with all powers of arrest, he is not actually working for the agency. He is working for whatever company who hired him. If this company is minimally covered, or has limited liability insurance, etc, then the officer's working at his own risk. If the officer is injured, the department can require him to burn sick leave until he recovers. If he doesn't recover, he will only receive the minimum disability compensation allowed by the State systems. In AZ, this is $12,500, which is taxable.

Check your agency's policies regarding this issue ASAP!

(This was placed in the public forum for people who are testing to become officers to read also. It's important information!)

In my department, we don't have light duty or other assignment. If you are injured and can't work the street, then you stay home and collect your full salary until you are able to come back to work full duty.

If the officer's injury is permanent, then he can retire at 50% of his top 3 years' salary (tax free). That is usually about $25k (plus medical benefits).

In my department, if your are injured permanently, then the officer retires at 70% of his salary, tax free, and full paid medical benefits for life for the officer, their spouse and children under 18.

If the officer is working "special duty," which means he is working security, in uniform and with all powers of arrest, he is not actually working for the agency. He is working for whatever company who hired him.

Not here, when we worked for a private company, we are covered and employed under our department. The business pays the town and then the town pays us.

[mrbelvetron]

Drew, do y'all have any openings?:D


At my dept. we have special-duty assignments like city functions and such, extra-duty assignments like football games or events where people hire us through the city, and off-duty jobs.

The first two are covered by the city, you're on your own for your second job.