Minneapolis is planning to start charging fees for hiring off-duty police officers.

The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to charge a fee when officers take after-hours gigs. Minneapolis police officers are able to take extra jobs working security at events, bars and businesses while they’re off the clock. They use their city uniforms, squad cars and gear.

City Council member Robin Wonsley, one of the authors of the fee ordinance, cited the cost of wear-and-tear on city equipment. 

“This is about putting in at least some level of guardrails and accountability through our fee systems,” Wonsley said.

The council has yet to determine the specifics, like the exact cost, and who will pay it; officers, their off-duty employers, or some combination.

The cost of using city gear is one of several concerns critics have raised about off-duty work. 

They say police who work long off-duty gigs will be tired and not perform at their best while on-duty. The pending federal consent decree would end the practice of allowing officers to manage gigs and hand them to higher-ranking colleagues. Some say the practice undermines the chain of command and accountability. 

“Experts and directly impacted residents have been telling city leaders that MPD’s off-duty system was ripe for corruption, and essentially is just a bad deal for residents,” Wonsley said.

Some council members raised concerns about fees. Council member Andrea Jenkins agreed a solution is needed, but said she doesn’t want to charge officers.

“I think this off-duty system is completely out of control,” Jenkins said. “I just don't think that this is a cost that should be borne by our staff.”

Council member Michael Rainville urged keeping costs low. 

“Let’s come up with something that does not raise our public safety costs to such extreme that people are not able to afford to have their events,” Rainville said.

The council previously asked the police department to conduct a fee study. Their report is due this spring. From there, council members will set up details, with an aim to start charging in 2026.

Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.