Police Off-Duty Information
The Medina Police Department recognizes that there are appropriate private events and/or circumstances in which the event organizers may be concerned for the safety and wellbeing of their guests and will request one or more off-duty police officers be present to keep the peace. Similarly, details to increase the security of a property or a resident may also warrant the employment of an off-duty police officer. As these events are outside the standard police services and protection provided to the general public, the organizer will be charged the officer's overtime rate to work the event in an off-duty capacity.
Any community member or organization wishing to hire an officer for law enforcement-related work should contact the Medina Police Department a minimum of one week prior to the event date, as all requests must be reviewed by the Chief of Police (or their designee) for approval and an agreement form signed. All private duty assignments are on a voluntary basis, so requests may not be approved due to insufficient time to arrange for an off-duty officer to be available. The Medina Police Department reserves the right to decline to provide personnel for an off-duty event at their sole discretion and without the need to provide a reason or justification.
Officers performing off-duty assignments will do so in their official capacity as a police officer. The officer(s) may be in full uniform with department equipment, including the use of an official and fully-marked patrol vehicle, if so desired by the event organizers. Officers may also be requested to wear plain clothes (i.e. business attire, business casual, etc.) but they will be outfitted with an inconspicuous ballistic vest underneath their clothing and will be armed at all times without exception. Officers will be required to follow departmental policies and procedures and will enforce all applicable Washington State laws and City of Medina or Town of Hunts Point ordinances should they encounter activity or incidents requiring law enforcement intervention that occur at or in connection with the event.
The hourly rate is calculated using the officer's overtime rate (1 ½ times regular hourly wage) plus required basic benefits such as social security, L&I, unemployment insurance, retirement, etc. There is a three (3) hour minimum charge for each officer with a maximum of twelve (12) hours per officer in a 24-hour period. Events falling on a holiday are subject to an increased rate of pay over the officer’s regular overtime rate of pay. The hourly rate can differ between different police personnel. Personnel hired to work the off-duty event is based on availability, and the requestor cannot dictate which police personnel work the event to minimize costs or for any other reason. Events that end prior to the scheduled end time for the off-duty detail will still be invoiced for the originally scheduled hours. Use of a patrol vehicle adds an additional charge of $10.00 per hour per vehicle.
An estimated range of hourly rates can be provided verbally based on current pay rates at the time of the event if requested prior to submitting an official request for off-duty police services. Once personnel are scheduled for the event, an official cost summary will be provided to the event organizer, and the agreement must be signed by all parties prior to the start of the event. Tips, gratuities or gifts are not allowed to be accepted by our officers. Negligible offerings (such as a glass of water or a modest food item) are acceptable but not expected. Emergencies requiring an immediate response when the off-duty officer(s) is/are not immediately present at the location of the emergency dictate a call to 911.
A completed application and agreement form are needed to start the process of employing an off-duty police officer. The event point of contact will be sent an invoice via email within the week following the event. Payment can be made via check mailed or hand-delivered to the Medina Police Department or by credit card in person at Medina City Hall.
For more information and/or to request off-duty police services at a private event, contact Captain Austin Gidlof at agidlof@medina-wa.gov or by phone at (425) 233-6430.
