The Importance of Technology-driven Oversight in Law Enforcement
Amongst the countless number of topics that draw attention in the law enforcement industry, the challenge of overseeing data is consistently overlooked.
Most law enforcement agencies keep a staggering number of records on file, but without an efficient means of organizing that data, their ability to access and report on it can be limited.
In times where accountability is in question, inefficient reporting can be especially concerning for agencies.
Let's use secondary employment and overtime details as an example.
Did you know that the average law enforcement officer can work more than 170 hours of off-duty, overtime, and special events each year?*
Consider the task of recording the number of hours worked, the amount of payment exchanged, and any other pertinent details. That data piles up quickly and can overwhelm even the most experienced of coordinators.
Off-duty revenue in perspective:
A law enforcement agency has 50 officers
The average officer works 170 off-duty/overtime hours per year
The average job pays $40/hour
Let's do the Math!
170 x $40 = $6,800
per Officer
$6,800 x 50 = $340,000
in Annual Revenue!
Can your agency afford to lose track of these payments?
Fortunately, solutions are available. Software products like PowerDetails can be used by agencies to store information such as job details, hours worked, and payment collected, in a system that allows for instant reports and analysis.
PowerDetails never deletes your data, and the reporting capabilities allow all agency stakeholders to maintain full transparency when it comes to payments and work schedules.
For agencies that allow cash transactions between their officers and 3rd-party employers, transparency can be hard to maintain. Officers love to receive cash payments for their secondary employment jobs because it is quick and convenient reimbursement for their services.
However, this practice creates numerous opportunities for misconduct that could have significant effects on the agency. Agencies that operate under a "virtual honor system" are often left unprotected against system abuse and related issues that could be avoided through technology-driven oversight
From top to bottom, technology-driven oversight benefits all members of a law enforcement agency
Officers:
With PowerDetails, officers have fair and equitable access to off-duty jobs and overtime shifts. Through automated enforcement of your agency's off-duty/overtime policies, we can ensure that officers report their hours accurately and prevent them from working too many jobs/hours within a given time period.
Officers can take comfort in knowing that job sign-ups are available to them 24/7 directly through the PowerDetails mobile app and website.
Coordinators:
PowerDetails handles all job requests and distribution to personnel directly in the app.
Coordinators can enjoy peace of mind knowing that all relevant job details are clearly organized for them to review/approve. By reducing coordination time significantly, coordinators are free from unnecessary stress and can focus on more critical tasks.
Command Staff:
Your agency's command staff can have peace of mind knowing that all facets of the off-duty and overtime process are accurately saved and stored.
Our system is an invaluable tool for identifying officers working too many jobs/hours and ensuring that agency policies are effectively enforced.
Captains and Chiefs around the country are sleeping much better with the knowledge that they're protected from liability risks.
Since 2006, PowerDetails has been the #1 third-party platform to bridge the gap between On & Off-Duty.
Our products help law enforcement agencies keep accurate records of hours worked, ensure payments are collected in full, and protect against any off-duty related incidents.
Through technology-driven oversight, agencies can enjoy peace of mind and feel empowered to engage in more secondary employment, knowing that they have the tools to do so effectively.
*2020 Data analysis of 54,000 law enforcement officers
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