Summer’s here. Businesses are opening up more than they have in over a year. More people are returning to offices, taking time to go to shops, restaurants, banks, events, places of worship and there is more traffic than there has been in over a year.
As businesses reopen, many are turning to local law enforcement for security. In the first quarter of 2020, RollKall saw a 150% increase in requests for officer support. Business owners and managers understand that uniformed officers give customers and employees a sense of comfort and security, following a year marked by discord and civil unrest. Research bears that out.
Findings from a recent RollKall survey
- Most Americans (73%) believe state and local government agency budget cuts will cause an increase in crime.
- 75% of respondents said they believe law enforcement officers are more effective at deterring crime than security guards.
- 60% of workers said they would feel safer at work if their employer hired onsite security staff.
- More than 70% of Americans are more likely to shop at a store or visit an entertainment venue that has onsite security.
- 88% believe the risk of property damage is lower at facilities that employ onsite security.
Growth in off-duty/extra-duty jobs
Off-duty and extra duty work was once a cottage industry. For the most part, officers helped a local business they had a relationship with. Agreements were sealed with a handshake. Today, approximately 800,000 law enforcement officers across the nation work in their off-hours to earn supplemental income.
As demand for off-duty support has grown, law enforcement agencies have designated off-duty coordinators. These are officers assigned to off-duty job intake and fulfillment, customer relationship management, hours tracking, and billing.
Today, for many departments, demand for off-duty support has out-stripped the department coordinator’s Excel, or other organizational tool, capabilities, and overall bandwidth. Many departments are having to do more with leaner staffs and lower budgets. Those agencies are discovering the value of off-duty management platforms.
Tech tools pay off
Having an off-duty technology-based tool with a mobile app for officers makes it easier to manage growing requests from businesses for officer-led security. Coordinators post the need; officers apply to work it. Officers in good standing are assigned to appropriate roles, ensuring an even and fair distribution of assignments among the officers who elect to serve in their off-hours.
More importantly, tools bring structure to off-duty. RollKall makes it possible for law enforcement agencies to ensure off-duty work adheres to department policies and procedures. For example, limits are placed on the number of hours officers work. GPS tracking makes it possible to know who’s working where and keep track of hours to avoid fatigue.
Beyond governance, tech tools deliver meaningful insights to empower law enforcement leaders. In addition to giving coordinators the oversight to ensure job assignments are fair, a host of dashboards sort data in meaningful ways to help command staff oversee every detail of every job.
Law enforcement officers and command staff want to serve, support their families and create safer communities. Off-duty management tools support more off-duty opportunities, greater organization and insight into the process.
