A bill that would allow law enforcement to use their official uniform, firearm, and vehicle while working for private security services in off-duty hours has passed in the Senate.
According to Senate Bill 2239, officers across Mississippi may be able to use such items issued in their law enforcement division with approval from their superiors.
Former Ridgeland Police Chief John Neal explained that it’s common for law enforcement officers to hold a second job, even if they are working full time.
“There were always those moonlighting jobs that you picked up because you could already make enough money to pay your bills, but there was always kid projects, there’s a vacation, there’s a daughter getting married, there’s college expenses,” Neal said. “Cops have always and will always be working side jobs.”
The bill states that chief executives will be in charge of granting permission to use the items to municipal law enforcement officers, while county sheriffs will sign off for deputy sheriffs. As for highway patrol officers, the director of any state law enforcement division will be required to approve before the possessions can be used after hours.
Additional wording includes that each officer must notify their agency of the place of employment, the hours to be worked, and the type of employment.
Once the officer is approved and hired, the bill states that the employer and its insurer will be required to “fully indemnify the employing jurisdiction for any expense or loss, including attorney’s fees and any damage to the official vehicle.”
At this time, the bill has been received in the House of Representatives and waits for the approval of the House Judiciary B committee.
