Hiring Police Officers Essay -- Security Safety Law Enforcement Essays

Hiring Police Officers Hiring police officers to perform private security work has positive aspects and potential pitfalls. Business owners vary in their opinion on hiring police officers. Liability and cost are reasons some prefer to hire private security guards or take other security measures. Other business owners prefer the training, professionalism, deterrence, and authority that come with hiring a police officer. Due to lawsuits involving off-duty police officers, the Courts have had to develop tests to determine when a moonlighting police officer is working under the authority of the private company or in the role of a peace officer. Issues have arisen about the difference in police mentality and retail service. Some argue that police officers are not trained in the motto that the ‘customer is always right’. Others believe additional training can bridge the gap. Hiring off-duty police officers is big business and a growing field that benefits the community and the officer. Pros and cons of hiring police officers to engage in private security work   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The employment of off-duty officers in private security is a big business. An estimated 150,000 law enforcement officers engage in private security work on off-duty hours, and their combined income reaches $1.8 billion annually. The combined revenue of secondary police officer employment exceeds that of the combined top four security companies in 1988 (Trimble 1993). There are many positive aspects of the program that benefit the community and the officer. But to some the positives aspects do not outweigh the negative consequences of hiring police officers. In this paper, I will discuss the positive and negative aspects of hiring police officers for private security details, as well as, my personal experience, case law, and the polices of different police departments. HIRING OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS Why would a company want to pay for a police officer to work a security detail at their store or facility? Police officers generally cost more to hire than a traditional security guard. What are the advantages that justify the cost? First, let’s define what is an off-duty police officer? Police are traditionally thought to be on-duty 24 hours a day. When officers are not actually working at the department, their law enforcement authority is in a type of reserve status. It is not necessary fo... ...NCES Beaver, D. When police walk the security beat. Retrieved November 14th, 2004, from http://www.amguard.com/featured_article.htm Brooks, B. Off duty police patrol shops along US 78. Gwinnett Daily Post Online Edition. Retrieved on November 14, 2004, from http://www.gwinnettdailyonline/GDP/archive/article78D9E0F872E44EBB9F88 Eiserer, T. (2001 October 28). Retailers face criticism over use of off duty police officers for security. Forth Worth Star – Telegram. Malcolm, A. (1989, February 26). When private employers hire public police. New York Times, p. 1 O’Leary, C. (1985, December 1). Minyard insisting on off duty police for security. Supermarket News, v. 46 n. 30 p. 18 Peck, D. (1999, October). When police walk the security beat. Security Magazine, v. 43 i. 10 p. 38 Scarlett, T. (2001, April). Private employees of off duty police may be liable in Tennessee. Trial, v. 37 i. 4 p. 32 Spain, N. (2002 October) Debate over using off duty police: Which argument rings true for you? Security Management, v. 37 n. 2 p. 65 Tolchin, M. (1985, December 1). Off duty officers doubling as private guards, but the system draws criticism. New York Times, v. 135 p. 41