NCJ Number
45251
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 50-58
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE VARIETY OF OFF-DUTY JOBS HELD BY POLICE OFFICERS IN 20 CITIES IS EXAMINED, TOGETHER WITH POLICIES AND PRACTICES RELATED TO 'MOONLIGHTING.'
Abstract
INTERVIEWS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF 20 POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTY INDICATED THAT POLICE ARE DOING OFF-DUTY WORK RANGING FROM PAINTING HOUSES FOR A FEW DAYS A MONTH TO RUNNING SUCCESSFUL CORPORATIONS THAT HIRE OUT LARGE NUMBERS OF OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS FOR SECURITY AND TRAFFIC CONTROL JOBS. A FEW CITIES (E.G., LAS VEGAS) ALLOW NO OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, WHILE OTHERS (DETROIT, NEW YORK) DO NOT ALLOW OFFICERS TO TAKE OFF-DUTY SECURITY JOBS THAT REQUIRE THEM TO WEAR THEIR BADGES AND UNIFORMS AND PERFORM OFFICIAL POLICE DUTIES. DEPARTMENTAL MANUALS USUALLY SPECIFY THE KIND OF OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT THAT IS ALLOWED, THE NUMBER OF HOURS AN OFFICER MAY WORK OFF-DUTY, AND THE PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR PERMISSION TO DO OUTSIDE WORK. HOWEVER, IN SOME CITIES ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES IS WEAK. SOME POLICE CHIEFS AND UNION SPOKESMEN WHO ARE OPPOSED TO OFF-DUTY EMPLOYMENT SAY IT CAN INTERFERE WITH EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF REGULAR POLICE WORK, CAN DESTROY FAMILY LIFE, AND CAN MAKE POLICE OFFICERS VULNERABLE TO CORRUPTION. OTHERS FEEL THAT ALLOWING OUTSIDE JOBS PREVENTS CORRUPTION. UNION OFFICIALS POINT OUT THAT POLICE SHOULD BE MAKING ENOUGH MONEY SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO MOONLIGHT. THE MOONLIGHTING SITUATION IN DENVER AND ATLANTA, WHERE THE PRACTICE IS EXTENSIVE, IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. IN BOTH CITIES, NEWSPAPER ARTICLES HAVE FOCUSED PUBLIC ATTENTION ON POLICE MOONLIGHTING. SALARY RANGES AND SECONDARY EXPLOYMENT LIMITATIONS ARE SUMMARIZED FOR THE FOLLOWING CITIES: ATLANTA, GA.; BOSTON, MASS.; CHICAGO, ILL.; DENVER, COLO.; DETROIT, MICH.; FORT WAYNE, IND.; HOUSTON, TEX.; INDIANAPOLIS, IND.; JACKSON, MISS.; MEMPHIS, TENN.; MILWAUKEE, WIS.; NEWARK, N.J.; NEW YORK, N.Y.; PHILADELPHIA, PA.; PHOENIX, ARIZ.; RALEIGH, N.C.; ST. LOUIS, MO.; SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.; SEATTLE, WASH.; AND WASHINGTON, D.C.