Paying the police officers for protection?

[70charginglizard]

I just watched a news story on a local neighborhood where there has been a recent car break in spree and the neightbors decided to hire local police officers to emphasis patrols in this neighborhood. Some are paying them upwards to $200.00!

So let me get this straight...We now have to pay the police to have them do what they should be doing which is to protect and serve? I don't know if I understand this? There are all kinds of commercials on tv right now about emphasis patrols on seat belt and speeding yet why don't they have emphais patrols on keeping peoples cars from getting broken into and ripped off?

I don't really have anything against the police but when I see things like this it really pisses me off. Especially with all this emphasis on Seat belt and speeding commercial crap going on lately. This is not right!!! I see this as nothing but bribery

[Troy]

When I worked in bars we paid off-duty police officers to patrol the parking lots and watch the front door. Even though there were many on-duty officers patrolling the streets it often took them too long to respond if we needed help. They were in uniform and we paid them through the police department. It also saved us in court because the officers were right there to see what was happening from the start - not to mention that most drunken belligerents don't take the time to see who they are swinging at and the courts are much less kind to someone assaulting a policeman than a bar employee. The environment was much nicer and everyone felt safer so our attendance and sales both improved. We had to pay $22-45 per hour depending on the rank of the officer (so $440-900) per weekend. You aren't exactly paying them to do their jobs, you're paying for them to monitor a very specific area and, essentially, ignore everything else (they can't leave to attend normal police matters either). Most city police departments just don't have enough officers to blanket their entire district (because people do things like voting down police levies and then complaining about crime).

Troy

[RECHRGD]

That doesn't even sound legal to me.  So you'll get better protection if you TIP your local policeman?  I don't like all the different "emphasis" patrols either.  They are only to generate revenue.  If your giving out traffic tickets your putting money into the city coffers.  No so if your investigating and break-in or assault.  The cops aren't the one's deciding on the priorities, their bosses are.  In Spokane County your lucky to even get an officer to come and take a report for home break-ins or car thefts.

[dodgecharger-fan]

That's what I thought at first - off-duty officers.

I think that's a common practise everywhere, but reading lizard's post it sounds like they are paying for more patrols from on-duty cops. At least that's how it reads to me.

If they're patrolling, I assume it's in marked cars - what if they see someone and have to give chase. They can't do it in their 92 Civic, right? Or do they just call it in and stay put? I don't know - but if they're using marked cars, then they'd have to be on duty, right?

I guess it's better to say we need more info.

Bottom line: hiring off-duty cops for specific events is fine, I think.
Having to pay on-duty for more protection is not right at all. Think of it from the view of people who can't afford to pay. How does the increased patrols in another neighbourhoood affect the crime rate in theirs? Not good I'll bet.

[70charginglizard]

"Think of it from the view of people who can't afford to pay. How does the increased patrols in another neighbourhoood affect the crime rate in theirs? Not good I'll bet."

Good point.

I can't remember what exactly they said about wether these cops were off hours or not. Maybe they will play the clip again and I will let you all know after that.

It just really pisses me off that emphasis always seems to be on Seat belt usage and speeding
and then stuff like this on normal taxpaying hours always gets sidelined or deemed as not as important.

To me it's more important for my tax dollars being used to have the cops to cruize around the neighborhoods watching our neighborhoods for suspecious theft and vadilism spree's rather then sitting at the side of the road watching for people going slightly over the speed limit or not wearing there seat belts.  That was my point.

[Troy]

I can't remember what exactly they said about wether these cops were off hours or not. Maybe they will play the clip again and I will let you all know after that.

Ah, yes, if they were on-duty then I kinda doubt it's legal. I hadn't even considered that.

It just really pisses me off that emphasis always seems to be on Seat belt usage and speeding
and then stuff like this on normal taxpaying hours always gets sidelined or deemed as not as important.

To me it's more important for my tax dollars being used to have the cops to cruize around the neighborhoods watching our neighborhoods for suspecious theft and vadilism spree's rather then sitting at the side of the road watching for people going slightly over the speed limit or not wearing there seat belts.  That was my point.

I agree. As I alluded to earlier, the police department/city has to generate enough revenue to sustain themselves. Catching petty criminals does nothing but overload the court/jail system but most people are more than happy to mail in their fines for minor traffic violations. Most policemen are told what to do by their superiors so, even if they know there's crime two blocks over they have to set up a DUI checkpoint or monitor radar where they are told. It also varies by location. My friends who patrol downtown literally patrol an area for their entire shift (burglaries, domestic violence, gangs, etc.) but out where I live I'll never see a cruiser unless he's monitoring traffic or getting to/from a place to monitor traffic. Both times we've had the house broken into it took well over two hours for an officer to show up even though we live about a mile and a half from the station. However, when I lived downtown I had to file a report on the phone as they wouldn't even bother coming out to investigate in person. I was three blocks from the station and the concentration of officers in the area was much higher.

Troy

[dkn1997]

there's no way the cops are getting paid extra for patrols while on duty.  come on..really...think about it.  I know some people have balls, but that's just a bit much.  the media and general public will tolerate a lot, but not something that blatant.

If people want to pay cops while off duty to work extra hours, then so be it.  who would you rather have catching the would be carthief.  Joe $hit the ragman security guard, or a real cop?  the one odd thing that struck me was what troy said about them being in uniform.  I know cops bounce and do security work on the side all the time, but I have never heard of them doing it in uniform.  you see all the trouble when cops pose for calendars and such wearing the uniform, imagine the $hitstorm when they are wearing the uniform and some dude gets stabbed or shot while they are inside the bar.....can of worms. 

[Silver R/T]

I just watched a news story on a local neighborhood where there has been a recent car break in spree and the neightbors decided to hire local police officers to emphasis patrols in this neighborhood. Some are paying them upwards to $200.00!

So let me get this straight...We now have to pay the police to have them do what they should be doing which is to protect and serve? I don't know if I understand this? There are all kinds of commercials on tv right now about emphasis patrols on seat belt and speeding yet why don't they have emphais patrols on keeping peoples cars from getting broken into and ripped off?

I don't really have anything against the police but when I see things like this it really pisses me off. Especially with all this emphasis on Seat belt and speeding commercial crap going on lately. This is not right!!! I see this as nothing but bribery

cause they would actually have to work not just sit on side of highway and jerk off with a laser gun (which is so easy and makes state money) Nobody wants to risk their life pursuing a rapist/felon in the middle of the night and get shot.

[Troy]

As far as I know, all Cincinnati Police officers are required to be in uniform while working outside details. I'm not talking about a second job as a security guard either or bouncer. These jobs are set up, managed, and paid for through the department as part of the collective bargaining agreement. Officers can sign up for a detail but the assignments are passed out on a rotating basis and hours worked are controlled. Here's an excerpt from one of the documents I found:
"All citizens derive benefits from officers working throughout the city, in uniform, at outside employment details. These detail officers handle incidents at the detail locations which would otherwise generate calls for service for on duty officers. Detail officers prevent illegal activity at detail locations and, in many cases, all around the vicinity of the detail locations because the uniformed officer is visible to the public. Preventing crime at detail locations positively affects all citizens at or near the detail locations and reduces service demand for the City. In the event a detail officer makes an arrest at the detail location related to the detail, the private employer pays the court time compensation for the officer."

Troy

[Shakey]

I just watched a news story on a local neighborhood where there has been a recent car break in spree and the neightbors decided to hire local police officers to emphasis patrols in this neighborhood. Some are paying them upwards to $200.00!

So let me get this straight...We now have to pay the police to have them do what they should be doing which is to protect and serve? I don't know if I understand this? There are all kinds of commercials on tv right now about emphasis patrols on seat belt and speeding yet why don't they have emphais patrols on keeping peoples cars from getting broken into and ripped off?

I don't really have anything against the police but when I see things like this it really pisses me off. Especially with all this emphasis on Seat belt and speeding commercial crap going on lately. This is not right!!! I see this as nothing but bribery

cause they would actually have to work not just sit on side of highway and jerk off with a laser gun (which is so easy and makes state money) Nobody wants to risk their life pursuing a rapist/felon in the middle of the night and get shot.

Would you have the balls to step up and be a police officer or are you content playing tough guy to the neighbourhood kids? 

[Silver R/T]

doesn't take "much balls" to trigger radar gun whole day long.

[Troy]

doesn't take "much balls" to trigger radar gun whole day long.

You're an idiot. There's just no other way to put it. I was just reading the "Fallen Heroes" section of the Cincinnati Police Department's web site and you know what? Many were injured or killed making routine traffic stops and investigating minor offenses. A good friend of mine was killed in the line of duty leaving a wife and child. He was doing what he loved and what he felt was right. I'm sure his family would love to hear your opinion. Another friend of mine was tops in his class at the Academy and had his choice of any district - he chose to work in the worst section of the city knowing that anti-police sentiment meant he was a constant target (literally). You are always complaining about cops - have you ever wondered if you have problems because of your attitude and lack of respect? Karma sucks doesn't it?

Troy

[70charginglizard]

Hopefully I didn't upset you Troy bringing this up. As I said at the beginning, I don't have anything against the Police in general. I know that they are there to do a very important and dangerous job. It's more of the politics on what they are prioritized to do is what gets me.

[hutch]

People have been stripped of their rights to protect their property over the years and of their rights to defend their own lives as well.  Thats the problem.  We give up our rights and pass the protection of our rights to the local and state governments.  So in turn they have to hire more cops because crime will always rise when governmetn prevents people from protecting their own self.

if people still had the right to protect their own property as they did for the first 200+ years of our nations history,  we would not have as many cops as we do now.   

[Troy]

Hopefully I didn't upset you Troy bringing this up. As I said at the beginning, I don't have anything against the cops. I know that they are there to do a very important and dangerous job. It's more of the politics on what they are prioritized to do is what gets me.

Absolutely not (upset). If the cops are taking money to patrol an area while on duty then that's certainly a problem. I was stating that, in many places, (most) anyone can hire uniformed officers for specific duties in addition to their normal work week. It's perfectly legal and benefits nearly everyone involved (except criminals and the terminally stupid). This is completely different than their duties during their normal work week where they may just have to go on traffic patrol all day. Attend a local city council meeting if you have concerns. The law is the law whether it's traffic or criminal, misdemeanor or felony, and the police are there to enforce it. Some people see traffic offenses as equal to, or worse, than corresponding criminal offenses. For example, some people will steal cable, bounce checks, light banned fireworks on the 4th of July, and/or lie on their taxes but get all worked up over someone else speeding (safely) on an open highway. So, who are the real criminals that the police should be targeting? It's a matter of perspective.

Troy

[JimShine]

Neighborhoods paying for protection. I had family in that business. 

[dodgecharger-fan]

The extra pay while on-duty sounds like a chitstorm waiting to happen. However, the reality is that it would (or should) come down to, "Why do they need to do that?" and the answer is likely that the force is understaffed and under-funded - not enough resources to cover all the bases. That's very likely true, but this isn't the way to deal with it, mainly because of the inequality of the whole idea.... expensive public meetings, new committees, studies and reports are the way to deal with it... 
Seriously though, if there's a lacking in the service provided, there's a way to fix it across the board, but it's going to cost someone, something, somewhere. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I'm saying if they want to complain about the services rendered, they had better be prepared to foot the bill for the solution. It should be handled carefully though because it could easily turn in to a "the rich folks started whining and NOW something is being done whereas we've needed increase presence here for years...." kind of scenario.

If it's off-duty, then I see no issue at all - other than I think that it should be a service provided for special events, but not to supplement the basic reason for the existence of a police force - to serve and protect.

I'd have to double check, but I vaguely recall that up here, officers working "sanctioned" events while off-duty alter their uniform just slightly from their on-duty uniform. 99% of the people would never know that they are hired for the event. I think it's a crest on their shirt instead of a badge - or something like that. Of course that may be the regional force here and not everywhere...

[resq302]

I work for a police dept and yes, our officers do work "side jobs".  These are jobs that are contracted through the town in which the town gets paid the money and the officer works it of a specified hourly rate depending on the job.  They DO have different uniforms for road work jobs vs. regular uniforms but again, depending on the side job, dictates which uniform it will be.  The occasionally get hired out by a hotel for proms and security for an event in which they have to be in full uniform.

Also, traffic stops are as bad as if not worse than regular calls in regards to officers being injured or killed.  A member of Moparts.com, Gary Davis - screen name UNLAWFUL, (RIP) was killed while on duty during a traffic stop and was hit by a drunk driver.  Again, doing something to make our streets safer for us, yet people still rip on the police.  I'll bet that your attitude would be different if you or someone you knew was either seriously hurt or killed by someone who was speeding or drunk driving.

Don't get me wrong either.  Are there bad or dirty cops out there also, absolutely.  But the majority of the ones out there are in the profession for the right reasons.  It is a thankless job but for those who do it, its piece of mind that you are trying to make the world or streets a better place for the next generation.

[280bb0]

First its Police Officer not cops second get the full story before you put it out for discussion. Do some research go on line and look up Department policy on off duty work etc. Some Dept's allow it others do not , some allow use of uniform when the work is done in the City of jurisdiction. In some areas large corporations have hired and paid for laid off officers to work specifically at that manufactures location. Got one more for ya wear your belt slow down have your veh reg and all the paper work use your turn signal stop at red lights and stop signs pay all outstanding warrants if you have them and if you still get stopped be polite you should be back on your way in no time. If that doesn't work then think of all the times that you did do something wrong and got away with it.

[2Gunz]

We hire the police to for some of the stuff we do.

Off-duty and full uniform.


I believe.... but I could be wrong.... that they have the same power as On-duty police.

[68RT4ME]

An Officer being hired either thru the Dept. or outside of it with permission and in uniform is certainly fine. If you know an electrician who works for a company and you have him come over to do a side job that would be ok right? Same for a plumber, carpenter, etc.. It's how those guy's make extra money to bring home for whatever reason so it should be of no surprise for an Officer to do the same. No Officer is allowed to do that while on regular duty and yes, he or she would be locked up for it too.

I surely wouldn't work a side job for free so yes, you are paying Cops for protection and when I do, it's called and off duty detail. Lot's of guy's suppplement their income in this manner. Others have their own business that have nothing to do with law enforcement.

[Shakey]

First its Police Officer not cops second get the full story before you put it out for discussion. Do some research go on line and look up Department policy on off duty work etc. Some Dept's allow it others do not , some allow use of uniform when the work is done in the City of jurisdiction. In some areas large corporations have hired and paid for laid off officers to work specifically at that manufactures location. Got one more for ya wear your belt slow down have your veh reg and all the paper work use your turn signal stop at red lights and stop signs pay all outstanding warrants if you have them and if you still get stopped be polite you should be back on your way in no time. If that doesn't work then think of all the times that you did do something wrong and got away with it.

COP is also acceptable as it stands for Constable On Patrol

[mikepmcs]

I know it's common place to pay them outside normal shifts due to the fact that they don't make a whole heck of a lot in this state anyway, so they take road watch gigs for construction to earn some extra overtime and stuff.  My buddy Pat said years ago they would take vacation time to get these other duties and make some bank(double dip so to speak)
I'm sure if what Kelly stated isn't legal it will come out very soon as it's in the media and we all know what that means. I did get your point Kelly, I'm just choosing to stay neutral and view responses.

To address the COP issue, the justice department and a whole lot of other police related things use that acronym for various police/justice related activities. They supported a show entitled COPS as well. They must not think it so bad.
Here's one example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Oriented_Policing_Services

I know some take offense to that word as it has been distorted to mean something it doesn't, like a lot of words today, but it actually isn't derogatory at all.

Around 1700, cop was a slang verb that meant capture and by the mid 1800's, a policeman had become known as a cop, or one who captures criminals.

v/r
Mike

[hutch]

[68RT4ME]

We already know your a hater Hutch but don't worry about anyone coming after you. Your not that important.