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POL-150Police OperationsSOP

Off-Duty Conduct & Carry

When to act off duty, when not to, and how the agency holds members accountable.

Draft — awaiting subject-matter-expert sign-off.

This template has been authored from the standards listed below but has not yet been reviewed by a named SME. Do not adopt without review through your authority having jurisdiction.

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This is a template. It is not your department's policy.

Tailboard templates are drafted as generic starting points aligned to national standards. They are nota substitute for your department's own review or for adoption through your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). For topics carrying significant exposure (use of force, medical scope, civil rights), route through qualified counsel before adoption.

Every placeholder marked [BRACKETED] must be completed before adoption. Every section must be reviewed against your department's staffing, apparatus, water supply, EMS scope, geography, and the specific laws of your state. What applies to a career department in a city may not apply to a volunteer department in a rural jurisdiction, and vice versa.

Standards, regulations, and best practices are updated regularly. Verify the current edition of every standard cited before adopting this document. Once adopted, this document becomes your department's responsibility — not Tailboard's.

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Number

POL-150

Version

1.0

Last reviewed

2026-05-01

Next review

2027-05-01

Summary

This policy establishes the agency's expectations of off-duty conduct, off-duty carry of firearms, intervention in incidents while off duty, and reporting requirements. The goal is officer and public safety, and preservation of community trust.

Definitions

Off-Duty Action
Any law-enforcement action taken by a member when not assigned to scheduled duty, including reporting, observing, intervening in incidents, or performing self-initiated activity.
Off-Duty Carry
Carriage of a firearm by a member when not assigned to scheduled duty.

Purpose

To define the conditions under which members act with police authority when off duty, the standards governing off-duty firearm carry, and the conduct expectations that apply to members at all times.

Scope

Applies to all sworn members.

General Off-Duty Conduct

  • Members represent the agency at all times. Off-duty conduct that reflects poorly on the agency or the profession is subject to discipline.
  • Members shall not engage in conduct that constitutes a crime, dishonesty, sexual harassment, discrimination, harassment, or unprofessional treatment of others.
  • Members shall not consume alcohol or controlled substances to the point that they cannot safely perform peace-officer duties while carrying a firearm or asserting peace-officer authority.

Off-Duty Intervention

  • The agency prefers off-duty members report incidents to on-duty resources rather than intervene physically.
  • Off-duty intervention is generally limited to incidents involving immediate threat of serious bodily harm or death.
  • Off-duty members do not engage in plainclothes vehicle pursuit, plainclothes traffic enforcement, or self-initiated investigative contact unless specifically authorized.
  • Off-duty members shall not act under the influence of alcohol or impairing substances.
  • When intervention is necessary, the off-duty member identifies as a peace officer at the earliest safe opportunity, requests on-duty support, and avoids appearing as a threatening unknown person to responding officers.

Approaching Other Officers When Off-Duty

  • Off-duty members approached by on-duty officers comply with all commands.
  • Officers do not assume an off-duty member is friend or foe based on appearance.
  • On-duty officers responding to an off-duty incident treat the off-duty member as an unknown person until identity and circumstances are clear.
  • Off-duty member does not display firearm except when justified.

Off-Duty Firearm Carry

  • Members are authorized but not required to carry agency-approved firearm off duty within the scope of state law and Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA, 18 U.S.C. § 926B) where applicable.
  • Firearm is carried concealed unless circumstances reasonably require display.
  • Carriage is prohibited where law forbids — secured areas, schools (per state law), federal facilities, sterile airport areas, premises where prohibited by the owner.
  • Carriage while under the influence of alcohol or impairing substances is prohibited.
  • Members are responsible for safe storage when not on their person.

Identification and Credentials

  • Members carry agency identification when carrying a firearm off duty.
  • Members display identification when interacting with law enforcement personnel from other jurisdictions or when intervention requires identification.

Reporting Off-Duty Action

  • Off-duty actions involving any use of force, display of firearm, or intervention in a crime are reported to a supervisor immediately.
  • A written report is submitted before returning to scheduled duty or within 24 hours.
  • Report includes location, sequence, witnesses, and any responding agencies.

Off-Duty Employment / Secondary Employment

  • Members may engage in secondary employment per the Secondary Employment policy.
  • Secondary employment requiring peace-officer status (e.g., off-duty security) is governed by separate written rules.
  • Secondary employment shall not conflict with primary duties or the appearance of impartiality.

Social Media

Social media activity is governed by the Social Media policy. Members are reminded that their social media presence may be viewed as agency-affiliated even when posted personally. Off-duty social media is not unmonitored personal space — it is observable conduct.

Family Disputes and Domestic Incidents

  • Members involved in a domestic dispute as a party shall not exercise peace-officer authority in that incident.
  • Members report the incident promptly per agency reporting rules.
  • The agency separates the involved member from the investigation to avoid conflict of interest.

Use of Department Property Off-Duty

  • Department vehicles, equipment, and uniform are used per the Take-Home Vehicle and Uniform policies.
  • Take-home vehicles are not used for personal travel beyond agency parameters.
  • Uniformed off-duty appearance for events, parades, and memorials requires authorization.

Out-of-Jurisdiction Conduct

  • Members traveling outside the agency's jurisdiction do not initiate enforcement activity except where authorized by law and trained.
  • Members observing crimes in other jurisdictions report to local authorities; intervention is limited as above.
  • Members traveling in a marked vehicle observe vehicle policies on display, identification, and conduct.

Training

  • Initial off-duty conduct training at academy.
  • Annual refresher.
  • LEOSA-specific training and qualification per state and federal requirements where applicable.
  • Off-duty firearm qualification annually consistent with the Firearms policy.

Accountability

Violations of this policy are addressed under the agency discipline policy. Off-duty criminal conduct, dishonesty, and conduct unbecoming may result in termination.

References

  • IACP Model Policy on Off-Duty Conduct and Carryiacp.org
  • Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)18 U.S.C. § 926B
  • CALEA Standards 26.1calea.org
  • State Off-Duty Carry / Concealed Carry Statute[INSERT STATE]

Adapt this template

Before this template becomes your department's policy, review the following items and adjust accordingly. Anything else that does not match your operation should be updated as well.

  • DRAFT — Requires legal review and SME sign-off before publication or adoption.
  • Reconcile off-duty intervention thresholds with collective bargaining and state law.
  • Identify secondary employment approval process and reporting form.
  • Cross-reference Firearms, Use of Force, Social Media, Discipline, and Take-Home Vehicle policies.

Adoption signature

Adopted by (Name, Rank)
Signature
Effective date
Next scheduled review

Before adoption checklist

  • ☐Replace [DEPARTMENT NAME] throughout the document.
  • ☐Complete every [BRACKETED] placeholder.
  • ☐Confirm the current edition of every cited standard.
  • ☐Check against your state statutes and state fire marshal rules.
  • ☐Route for chief review. Topics with significant exposure (use of force, medical scope) also go through qualified counsel.
  • ☐Confirm alignment with any mutual-aid agreements.
  • ☐Schedule a training plan for the new policy before effective date.
  • ☐Announce adoption in writing to all members. Archive the prior version.
  • ☐Set the next review date — annually at minimum.