Clayton and off-duty police work

Why this is published at all

New Jersey is the only state where you can look up what a patrol car costs on a detail, town by town, and the reason is statutory. The Attorney General and the Division of Local Government Services determined that municipal officers may work off duty for private parties — and state law then requires that the assignment be arranged by contract with the municipality, not with the officer. So the town has to set the price, and it sets it in an ordinance that anyone can read.

So what follows is not a policy manual. It is Clayton's own ordinance, and it says what the town charges.

What the ordinance charges

What the officer's time costs: Board of Education $65/hour; Gloucester County road work at County-established rate; all other vendors $80/hour; 15% Borough administrative fee Minimum per job: two hours; late cancellation under two hours triggers four-hour minimum Hours: limited to approved/funded hours; additional funds required to continue if escrow becomes depleted

The car, and what it costs

The vehicle is priced separately: $150 per day for authorized Borough equipment; waived for Clayton Board of Education

Whether the car may go at all: with approval.

In the ordinance's own words: “Any additional cost anticipated as the result of an authorized use of any Borough equipment: $150 per day”

13 of these towns price the car by the day instead, from $40 to $200. Clayton's $150 is above the middle of that group.

How the work is arranged

Who approves it: Chief of Police or designee How a job is arranged: employer files application/agreement; Chief/designee reviews and gives final approval; 100% anticipated cost is deposited in Off-Duty Detail Escrow Account before work How the officer is paid: Borough Off-Duty Detail Escrow Account What is barred: Chief/designee may deny work inconsistent with Department functioning/reputation or that unreasonably threatens officer safety

Vehicles

Set by Clayton's own ordinance, which is how New Jersey prices off-duty police work — the town contracts with the employer, so the town sets the fee.

• $150 per day for authorized Borough equipment; waived for Clayton Board of Education

Every agency here, side by side on vehicles →

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Common questions

What does an off-duty Clayton police officer cost?

Board of Education $65/hour; Gloucester County road work at County-established rate; all other vendors $80/hour; 15% Borough administrative fee

Does Clayton charge for the police vehicle?

$150 per day for authorized Borough equipment; waived for Clayton Board of Education

Who arranges an off-duty job in New Jersey?

The municipality. State law requires the assignment to be arranged by contract with the town rather than privately with the officer, which is why the town publishes a rate at all.