Moonlighting cops under scrutiny

THE POLICE High Command is threatening to come down hard on moonlighting cops engaged in activities in breach of force policy.

Members of the police force are reportedly engaged in several odd jobs in their downtime, but Police Commissioner Owen Ellington has noted that some of these jobs are in conflict with their role as police personnel.

"It has been noted from a number of recent incidents, which have attracted national attention, that members of the (force) and its auxiliaries are engaging in extra-work arrangements such as bodyguards, driving of public-passenger vehicles, and also as promoters/stakeholders/participants in dances and stage shows where breaches of the law are being committed," Ellington said in the Force Orders released yesterday.

"These activities are not consistent with the policy guidelines," Ellington added.

He noted that policemen and women can engage in odd jobs while off duty, but these should be regular policing functions, and should be approved by the leadership of the force.

"There shall be a contractual arrangement with the Government of Jamaica and not with members of the JCF," Ellington said as he noted that cops would be paid for these duties outside of their regular salaries.

"Any police private duty conducted outside of the official programme will be a breach of the JCF's anti-corruption policy," Ellington warned.

Police barred from

(a) Employment as

taxi/bus drivers.

(b) Employment as process servers.

(c) Employment as private bodyguards.

(d) Employment as private investigators.

(e) Employment as bill collectors.

(f) Employment as private security guards.

(g) Any other (job) prescribed by the commissioner of police.