Off-Duty and Under Arrest

Abstract

The findings of independent commissions and research derived from a data set of career-ending misconduct among New York Police Department (NYPD) officers suggests that police engage in a wide variety of crimes while they are off duty including domestic violence, bar fights, drunk driving, burglary, and sex offenses (Fyfe & Kane, 2006; Kane & White, 2009; Mollen Commission, 1994). The off-duty misbehavior of police is an important concern for police agencies exposed to potential liability costs, and scholars engaged in debates about whether studies on police deviance should include acts committed while an officer is technically off duty. The problem for scholars interested in understanding off-duty police misconduct is that virtually all of the existing data describes the misbehavior of NYPD police. The purpose of the current study is to explore the nature and character of off-duty police crime in the United States through a content analysis of news articles on arrested off-duty police officers. Data are presented in terms of the arrested off-duty officer(s), his or her agency, and case outcomes including legal and/or employment dispositions. The article includes a discussion regarding the generalizability of existing data on off-duty police crime and the policy implications of our research.

An exploration of crime by policewomen

“…In general, studies show some police officers commit a variety of misdemeanor and felony offenses (Fyfe & Kane, 2006;Harris, 2010;Stinson et al, 2012). Police crime occurs in small and large law enforcement agencies located in every state throughout the USA, both on-and off-duty (Stinson et al, 2012). Early studies of police crime revealed some officers commit on-duty criminal activity, including the acceptance of bribes and petty theft (e.g.…”

“…Officers who are arrested for crimes committed both on-and off-duty are more likely than other officers who are arrested to receive a suspension as a final adverse employment outcome. Likewise, arrests for on-duty crimes are more likely to result in an arrested officer's resignation, and arrests of officers for off-duty crimes are more likely to result in the termination of the officers' employment (Stinson et al, 2012).…”

“…Information on the nature and extent of these occurrences is, however, limited and the number of sworn officers who have engaged in criminal behavior is still largely unknown (Anechiarico & Jacobs, 1996;Barak, 1995;Kane, 2007;Stinson et al, 2010;Stinson, Liederbach, & Freiburger, 2012). In general, studies show some police officers commit a variety of misdemeanor and felony offenses (Fyfe & Kane, 2006;Harris, 2010;Stinson et al, 2012). Police crime occurs in small and large law enforcement agencies located in every state throughout the USA, both on-and off-duty (Stinson et al, 2012).…”

“…More recent studies found officers also commit many crimes off duty (Fyfe & Kane, 2006;Kane & White, 2009;Mollen Commission, 1994). These crimes are more likely to be assault-related offenses, liquor law violations, statutory rape, drunkenness, pornography/obscenity offenses, certain sex offenses, and driving under the influence (DUI) (Stinson et al, 2012). Officers who are arrested for crimes committed both on-and off-duty are more likely than other officers who are arrested to receive a suspension as a final adverse employment outcome.…”

The Nature of Crime by School Resource Officers

“…Police officers do not like to arrest other officers, and often minor transgressions are ignored whereas similarly situated nonpolice citizens would be arrested for their crimes (Black, 1976). The off-duty crimes for which officers are sometimes arrested include domestic violence and other assaults, driving under the influence (DUI), and various sex crimes (Stinson, Liederbach, Brewer, & Todak, 2013;Stinson, Liederbach, & Freiburger, 2012;). …”