You cannot rely on the Dallas police force to be everywhere and anywhere all at once. As much of a fantastic effort as they make, it simply isn’t plausible. This is why many places, particularly apartment complexes, use what is called a “courtesy officer” to handle what the DPD cannot.
What is a Courtesy Officer?
According to career website Indeed.com, a courtesy officer is a security professional who provides surveillance and basic protection to the residents and property of an apartment complex. A courtesy officers’ primary function is to keep everyone in the community safe. Some times, these security professionals are former or off-duty law enforcement men and women who already have the necessary skills and training to perform the work.
The most common job duties for a courtesy officer include:
- Patrolling the premises
- Completing reports
- Taking emergency calls
- Report serious incidents
- Building relationships with tenants
- Assessing vehicles
- Attending meetings
- Recommending procedures
Understanding the Pros and Cons of Hiring an Off-Duty Police Officer as a Courtesy Officer
Now that you know what a courtesy officer is, the next question to answer is whether or not you need to hire an off-duty police officer for the job. You can best answer this by learning a bit more about the pros and cons of doing so.
The Pros of Hiring an Off-Duty Police Officer
#1 As an off-duty police officer, a courtesy officer can sometimes be seen coming and going in their uniform.
#2 An off-duty police officer still has his/her arrest authority while off-duty.
#3 An off-duty police officer can carry a firearm legally while out-of-uniform, as long as they are permitted by their department policy.
The Cons of Hiring an Off-Duty Police Officer
#1 An off-duty police officer cannot patrol your property, respond to disturbances, or noise complaints when they are working their full time job for their department and responding to calls all over the city.
#2 A “off-duty police” officer does not generally walk the grounds of your apartment community nor do they write any reports.
#3 Your property goes uncovered when your off-duty police officer goes out-of-town, on vacation, or is sick.
Hire Statewide Patrol to Fill Your Need for a Courtesy Officer
While there are some benefits to having an off-duty police officer work as your courtesy officer, there are some pretty big gaps as well. The solution is to hire not one officer, but an entire team of security personnel. The solution you’re looking for is Statewide Patrol!
Statewide Patrol is licensed and insured to provide security services in Dallas and the rest of Texas. We are backed by a 5-million dollar liability insurance policy which covers our officers for their actions. Our team will always write a nightly report which documents who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Just like an off-duty police officer, Statewide Patrol officers can be armed or unarmed– your choice. Our officers are always fully uniformed in an “official law-enforcement style” uniform. Plus, we have a full detail of State Certified Officers to work on your property. We are never on vacation!
We offer a 24/7 emergency dispatch number that can be provided to your answering service.
If you do opt for an off-duty police officer, Statewide Patrol can be contracted to work when your regular courtesy officer is working or out-of-town. This is because we provide services on a month-by-month basis; no long-term contract needs to be signed.