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Outside Employment: Guidelines for Law Enforcement Agencies

NCJ Number
168427
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 66 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1997) Pages: 12-17
Author(s)
D U Burton
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Issues that police agencies must address when trying to regulate outside employment for their officers and suggested procedures to ensure that part-time or off-duty employment does not interfere with police responsibilities are presented.
Abstract
Police agencies should develop their policies with the assistance and guidance of a legal advisor. Policies should address the three usual types of outside employment: part-time employment that does not involve police powers, regular off-duty police employment, and temporary off-duty police employment. The police chief should approve any request to engage in outside employment. General restrictions should help prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that police officers remain both physically and mentally capable of performing all functions required by the police department, which is their primary employer. Policies should cover maximum hours per week and day, the use of uniforms, compensation, and a protocol for approving requests regarding outside employment. A well-managed policy can lead to fewer officer demands for salary and benefit increases; enhance community support through increased police visibility; improve morale; and protect the community, and police agency, and individual police officers.