State of Details 2020: COVID-19 Edition
2020 has undoubtedly been an exhausting and challenging year for the law enforcement industry.
Between addressing nationwide protests and enforcing mandated curfews, law enforcement officers have routinely been put in compromising positions that require direct contact with the public. Under normal circumstances, this would be another day on the job. However, in light of COVID-19, it is important to acknowledge the risks that officers take while being on the frontlines of the pandemic and the concerns that they have about their livelihood.
These concerns are not unwarranted.
The impact of COVID-19 has been as swift as it has been significant. According to the Associated Press, a fifth of the Detroit Police Department was forced to self-quarantine due to COVID-related symptoms at the end of March, 2020, including the Chief of Police.* The same rings true for other agencies across the country where positive COVID-19 diagnoses have created numerous staffing and operational problems.
While law enforcement agencies have adjusted their daily routines to protect their communities, little has been done internally to ensure the officers themselves are protected against the occupational hazards of being a first responder.
By the nature of their job, officers have limited options when it comes to social distancing, and, unlike other professions, law enforcement cannot be done from an officer’s home office.
On March 30, 2020 the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) published the following regarding COVID-19 policy:
“As the number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to climb globally, law enforcement agencies continue to respond to communities on the front lines, despite the operational challenges the pandemic poses.These operational challenges include inevitable shortages of employees and resources that make it essential for law enforcement agencies to establish plans and take measures in advance. Preparation will help ensure that crucial law enforcement services are not unreasonably disrupted and that employees are provided with the means to prevent or mitigate the spread of infection.” **
This is particularly important for officers who may rely on a steady schedule of secondary employment opportunities to supplement their income.
Working secondary employment is common for law enforcement officers, especially for younger officers who are focused on starting families or trying to build a life for themselves. According to a 2017 study by the University of South Carolina School of Law, more than 80% of law enforcement agencies allow their officers to work off-duty jobs in some capacity, with 43% of officers choosing to participate.***
As a partner to our customers in law enforcement since 2006, PowerDetails is contributing to the conversation by offering a data analysis of all secondary employment and overtime activity in 2020.
This analysis highlights how COVID-19 has affected the industry compared to previous years and provides best practices for how agencies can adapt to the challenges this pandemic has created.
We hope you will find this data useful as you compare your agency’s data and experiences to the nation-wide trends identified in this report.
Our goal is to equip your agency with the information it needs to improve off-duty, and overtime policy as the circumstances around the pandemic continue to change.
Download the report and share with your agency!
If you would like to meet with a PowerDetails Team member for a free needs assessment , please schedule a brief web-demonstration with us here. We’re happy to review your agency’s current policies and procedures.
*The Associated Press: Officers are scared out there: Coronavirus hits US police
**COVID-19 (Coronavirus): IACP Law Enforcement Policy Center
***Moonlighting:The Private Employment of Off-Duty Officers; by Seth W. Stoughton, University of South Carolina School of Law (2017)
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