Any LEOs use their rig for off duty work?

[Leo_the_LEO]

Read his original post. He wants to use his personal rig for off-duty lane closures, etc.

As an aside, in Oklahoma I've never seen law enforcement use personal vehicles for this type of work. Its almost exclusively done by OHP in marked cruisers.

See you get it lol. yea here in Tx in most places its done by off duty officers using personal vehicles

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

Congrats on your order, that is the exact one I want as well. Hope you get it in September. Here is Arizona I am hearing October/November

I was going to be content with a 2018, but once he told me they're starting on the 2019's I was thrilled and was quick to jump on the opportunity.

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

I see it all the time here. They help with evening/weekend highway closures for construction work. Slap some POLICE magnets on their doors, turn on the red and blue lights and make overtime money. A coworker I have dates a cop and says they can make pretty good money on nights/weekends/days off doing security for jewelry stores or bars/restaurants. If you see a cop in those places watching the place, he's probably off duty but getting paid.

Haha depending on where you're at, you've probably cursed at me along with all the other heavy traffic as I've been parts of crews that closed down 410 at times, or even 90 and 1604. I used to do lots of work to close roads for SAWS as well. Its very good money, usually for security jobs can pay $30-$35/hr but the road closures is where the easy money is at. It can sometimes hit $40/hr and like you said put the magnets on and turn on the lights. olice: hell, when Harvey hit last year, I went east and made $75/hr, worked 2 12hr shifts, just to help direct evacuation traffic.

almost all places that you see someone watching the place like the walmarts, HEBs, whataburgers, the Jewelry stores, they're all off duty officers making money on an off day. I'm all for the easy places, no sense really working hard on your day off, you know? lol

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

I live in the Denver area and called a few dealerships last months in my area for a Cement TRD PRO. They we're still taking orders on the Calvary at that time. Just in case that helps any.

I learned that different regions do different things. Especially when it comes to pricing or addons that are done before it even gets to the lot. I saw a video of a 2018 TRD pro that on the sticker price shows LED fogs, something that isn't even offered here through Gulf States Toyota.

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

Thank you for answering for the OP.

Anywayz, to the OP, let me rephrase. You worried about putting extra wear and tear on your personal vehicle, if there is any more extra wear and tear. I'm not LEO, I don't know what they do with their personal vehicles. If LEO fleet vehicles usually beef up their vehicles in some way or form......are you going to do that to your personal vehicle?

Just curious. Sorry this is going off topic.

lol no worries man, like i said, just going to drive to the site and turn on the lights and sit there for a few hours, once the construction crew is done, turn the lights off and drive home. LEDs don't draw much power so shouldn't be too bad and I already have a two battery set up planned. LE Fleet vehicles are usually beefed up versions of the commercial cars but there is a lot of equipment that goes into them, i'm not going anywhere near that level.

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

I don't get what the mystery is here. You know when you come across a big construction project on the highway at night and there's a cop sitting there with his lights on at the beginning of it to slow people down? That's this guy. Being a cop doesn't generally pay for shit so this is a good way to make some extra money. Mainly they just sit there. It's boring as hell but its money and being a cop is a stressful job and most can probably use a quiet night chilling in the car listening to tunes. He can correct me if I'm wrong here but he's not planning to take his personal vehicle to chase bad guys off jumps like in the movies. He's gonna roll up in a vehicle that looks like a police car and he's gonna sit there all night and get paid for it and he's not gonna get busted for impersonating a cop because he is a cop.

My apologies to the OP of it's more Smokey and the Bandit and less blue collar than that but I just wanted to clear up the mystery people seem to have.

exactly! no chasing bad guys, just sitting there. Park it, set up my phone as a hotspot, then watch netflix on my ipad until the construction crew is done for the night lol hardest part of these jobs though is when you gotta use the restroom. Sunday night jobs are best, I'm a little weary of Friday night and Saturday night jobs. Drunks are like insects and tend to go into flashing lights.

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

In my neck of the woods, all the construction escorts are from marked cruisers, which are designed with beefier electrical systems, and drivetrain systems to handle long periods of engine idling. I'm assuming the engine idling also takes a toll on vehicles, so why put your own vehicle through that. Again, its uncommon for off duty cops in my area to chaperone construction work. They get CHP's finest in my area.

Anywayz, forget it. If I have a question like this I'll repost it in offtopic.

cheers.

I'm not too concerned with idling. I used to use a VW Jetta with an overhead light bar (like the ones that are used on patrol vehicles) and in every season except for summer (south texas summers are no joke lol), i used to be able to sit, turn the car off, run the light bar off the battery for like 6-7 hrs before turning the car on and letting it idle for 25-30 min.

and don't worry about asking questions man, its what forums are for and your questions, while not an answer to my question, are still kinda on topic and I have no problem answering them for you. Different states operate in different ways. Cali Highway Patrol is similar to our Texas State Troopers. Those guys are spread so thin though, as is every LE agency. Its better to not need to pull resources just to close a road, so the construction crews hire off duty guys to close them.

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

alrighty i think i got everyone, maybe next time i'll put all these replies in a single post lol

thank you guys for those that provided me links, its a good place to start

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

Strobes N' More E66 Flood/Warning Bar - StrobesNMore.com

Do not trust ETD.

The color in the picture just showed red and i didn't pay too much attention but there is an option for half red and half blue and its exactly what I'm looking for... you are awesome!

btw what kind of experience did you have with ETD?

 

[TCLLC]

i didn't find the other one I was looking for, but I found this, it should do what you want, I will try to look for the other later

https://www.ledoutfitters.com/offro...l-color-combo-spot-and-flood-light-single-row

also you could get the red/white bar I showed you and add a row of blue above. I am a ff/emt and I have a row of blue and a 32 off road. if you want pics lmk

 

[mtnbiker49]

The color in the picture just showed red and i didn't pay too much attention but there is an option for half red and half blue and its exactly what I'm looking for... you are awesome!

btw what kind of experience did you have with ETD?

ETD has the worst customer service that I have ever experienced. May God help you if you actually need a warranty replacement or technical help.

Plus, a few fire dept personnel had their lights and they are crap. Cheap quality with short lifespan. And most emergency lights (except whelen, soundoff, and maybe fed sig) are made in China, but the ETD lights are literally bottom line throw away junk. Can’t trust them with your life, which is why I don’t understand why people buy them.

Fyi- regarding Strobes n More. I ran their dual color E6 lightheads for 3 years and they were great lights. Didn’t fade or lose intensity. I sold that vehicle, so now I ordered an amber TA (SNM E66 Mini) and I’ll throw some Whelen Duos on the ends of it.

Lastly, Whelen (big 3) > SNM,Feniex> Speedtech> ETD. That’s my opinion.

 

[Ryan1975]

I had a question for any other Law Enforcement Officers out there. I have my 2019 4Runner ordered and trying to find some parts to gather up to install as the rig arrives. I like doing a lot of off duty lane closure/traffic control jobs and am currently using a 48" Whelen overhead light bar w/magnetic feet. I, however, have a plan for a build involving a roof rack that I'm not sure will accommodate that light bar.

So I'm trying to find a dual (or maybe triple?) color light bar. I already have a traffic advisor that I'm using now, that I plan to mount in the back that is Red/Blue and when I turn on the diagonals it goes to amber. I'm looking for a light bar to throw up front that'll give me Red/Blue then completely white. This way I can use it for both my traffic jobs and as an off-road light bar.

Anyone know of any place that sells something similar or can customize something??

I've seen a few videos ...this one jumps out. I'm not fan of the approach they took and think that if I had a fairly decent budget to work with I'd have started with a TRD Off Road / Trail w/ KDSS to start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk5jdFN4svc

 

[Jarheadoo7]

exactly! I'm a little weary of Friday night and Saturday night jobs. Drunks are like insects and tend to go into flashing lights.

Grab two orange barrels and set them up behind your car 25-30 feet back or further if you have the real estate.

 

[Leo_the_LEO]

ETD has the worst customer service that I have ever experienced. May God help you if you actually need a warranty replacement or technical help.

Plus, a few fire dept personnel had their lights and they are crap. Cheap quality with short lifespan. And most emergency lights (except whelen, soundoff, and maybe fed sig) are made in China, but the ETD lights are literally bottom line throw away junk. Can’t trust them with your life, which is why I don’t understand why people buy them.

Fyi- regarding Strobes n More. I ran their dual color E6 lightheads for 3 years and they were great lights. Didn’t fade or lose intensity. I sold that vehicle, so now I ordered an amber TA (SNM E66 Mini) and I’ll throw some Whelen Duos on the ends of it.

Lastly, Whelen (big 3) > SNM,Feniex> Speedtech> ETD. That’s my opinion.

Good to know, I'm always a fan of great customer service. I had to warranty out my Speedtech advisor cause one of the ambers went out and they didn't give me any fuss and had it fixed for me within a couple of days. Unfortunately they don't make what I need. Strobes n More seems to hit the spot on what I'm looking for, I spent a good deal of time on their site last night. They might be who I choose, thanks for the info

 

[Axix23]

my question is, why doesn't your agency let you use your patrol vehicle on your off duty extra jobs? If I was a Leo, I would be worried on messing up my nice new 4 Runner. I'll be damned if some drunk runs into the rear of my brand TRD Pro on the HWY not paying attention. Hwy construction traffic details are one of the most dangerous ones. Get yourself an old old beater 4 runner and run a ton of lights so you can be visible. lol

 

[Jarheadoo7]

my question is, why doesn't your agency let you use your patrol vehicle on your off duty extra jobs? l

It all comes down to money or availability of spare. Sometimes we don’t have enough cars because cop cars break down just like normal cars and parts take time to come in for cop cars just like normal cars. Hell once in a while we are so thin on cars we have to drive our personal to court, HUGE liability on a personal level there.

 

[Axix23]

It all comes down to money or availability of spare. Sometimes we don’t have enough cars because cop cars break down just like normal cars and parts take time to come in for cop cars just like normal cars. Hell once in a while we are so thin on cars we have to drive our personal to court, HUGE liability on a personal level there.

I assume yall don't get take home vehicles.

 

[Jarheadoo7]

Not where I work...unless you have a dog...or a white shirt...I wouldn’t want either one lol

 

[Axix23]

Not where I work...unless you have a dog...or a white shirt...I wouldn’t want either one lol

Gotcha! Lol

 

[WNY PAT]

Interesting your state allows that. In NYS, some of the bigger construction companies buy wholesale Tahoes and (in the olden days) Crown Vics from state police and leave them parked in the work zones. People slow down before they notice it’s just a decoy. We also have a Traffic Management Unit in all the Troops. Large construction zones automatically get signs as well as regular work speed zone enforcement (daily). No charge in NYS - it’s just a part of what the state police here do. If you’re moving big equipment or industrial parts, and have to pull a permit that requires an escort, you get marked NYSP vehicles and on duty Troopers. You pay per mile for the vehicle(s) as well as per hour for the Trooper(s).