Tempe, Arizona

Police Department

Policy Manual

 

Action While Off-Duty

 

General Order 05.101

Issue Date: 10-01-1997

Review Date: 03-07-2001

Revision Date: 05-25-2001

 

A. Sworn officers are permitted to take enforcement action while off-duty within the State of Arizona, if they observe an incident which requires immediate police action.

 

  1. Immediate police action will only be taken when time is critical and when the action will safeguard life, prevent serious injury or prevent significant property loss.

 

Definitions

 

A. OFF-DUTY--Outside an officer's normal scheduled work hours.

 

  1. Hours worked on hold-over, call-in, special assignments, off-duty work or supervisory approved functions are not included in off-duty for the purposes of this order.

 

B. POLICE ACTION--Contact with another person for the purpose of initiating an investigation, arrest or detainment under color of authority.

 

  1. This includes the issuance of verbal commands to a person while displaying a badge or while identifying oneself as a police officer by other means.

 

A. Officers are encouraged to carefully evaluate circumstances prior to taking off-duty police action.

 

  1. When an incident does not require immediate police action, the incident will promptly be reported to the police agency having jurisdiction.

 

B. Officers will promptly report off-duty enforcement action to an on-duty supervisor.

 

  1. Upon returning to on-duty status, officers will prepare a memorandum explaining the off-duty police action taken and submit the memorandum to their supervisor.

 

  1. An officer's supervisor will review the off-duty police action incident and ensure the action taken fell within the guidelines of this policy.

 

C. Officers will be considered on-duty during the entire time that enforcement action is necessary while off-duty.

 

  1. Officers taking police action off-duty will comply with all departmental policies.

 

  1. Officers will be compensated for necessary police action taken while off-duty.

 

A. Officers will not:

 

  1. Take police action on minor traffic violations.

 

  1. Take police action in disputes or quarrels involving their neighbors or family unless death, injury or serious property damage may result if immediate action is not taken

 

  1. Take any police action after consuming any alcoholic beverage.

 

Tempe Police Department

120 East 5th Street

Tempe, AZ 85281