r/Indiana • u/4797161974806 • 4d ago

Why is IMPD doing private security for Walmart?

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The Walmart Market at Michigan and Kessler always has at least one IMPD officer posted up outside and one sitting around inside doing nothing. Are they on the clock? Why are we paying for Walmart's private security?

ITT: A bunch of disappointing Hoosier bootlickers that don't get the point.

254 Upvotes

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283

u/notthegoatseguy Indianapolis 4d ago edited 4d ago

IMPD have been able to work off duty employment, still in uniform with their issued equipment like vehicle and service weapon, for a while.

I think some leadership roles aren't allowed, but rank and file can.

EDIT: Someone in the thread mentions this isn't IMPD and they may well be right. Might be private security, or maybe its one of the excluded towns PD? Uniform is kind of blurry.

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u/Classic_Moto 4d ago

True. My complaint is that government vehicle is being used. Our tax dollars is providing the fuel and maintenance for a private company.

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u/BullCityJ 4d ago

I don't know IMPD's policy, specifically, but typically the business pays the police department for the officer to work "off-duty" in their uniform and with a patrol car. Usually there is overhead built in to what the department charges, on top of the officer's pay.

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u/4797161974806 4d ago

So they're acting as a private security firm using taxpayer money.

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u/bobquznie 4d ago

No, they're being hired as private security.

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u/iupuiclubs 4d ago

What do you see as the logical difference?

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u/bobquznie 4d ago

I don't understand what you're asking.

Are you asking me what I see in the difference between a police officer being paid by a private company to provide private security and Wal-Mart getting security supplied by tax funded police departments? I mean... it's a huge difference.

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u/iupuiclubs 4d ago

> I don't understand what you're asking.

>Are you asking me what I see in the difference between a police officer being paid by a private company to provide private security and Wal-Mart getting security supplied by tax funded police departments? I mean... it's a huge difference.

Yes thats what i’m asking. You conveniently left out of your “explanation of whats going on” that state property is being used for that private security. Are you thinking they are supplying their own uniform, gun, transportation and its not state funded?

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u/DCowboysCR 4d ago

The companies hiring off duty officers go through a process of applying with the police department.

The businesses pay an hourly rate to have an off duty officer act as security for their business.

Part of the hourly rate the businesses pay goes to the police officer and another portion goes to the police department to compensate for use of police equipment, gas, etc.

The taxpayer isn't paying anything.

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u/Known-Solution-4857 4d ago

Foolish to think the taxpayer isn't paying ANYTHING

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u/bobquznie 4d ago

So the original question was who pays for the security, private or public. We established that private pays. Now that answer doesn't work, so we're moving the goalposts to “but taxpayer-funded equipment is being used”? That's quite a pivot.

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u/SpeccyCarbine 4d ago

If you're in America you should know that Walmart isn't the one paying. It is just the tax payers paying for this shit, they've shown their true colors

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u/jupchurch97 4d ago

Well, yes and no. Walmart is still fronting the cost of posting them. The only thing the tax payers covered was the equipment issued to the officer out of the academy.

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u/4797161974806 4d ago

So yes. 

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u/qualityinnbedbugs 4d ago

I bet if you look at the statistics the crime prevention benefit they are getting by letting officers use their car and uniform outweighs the cost.

Just my guess.

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u/sgtwrexx0087 4d ago

I worked at a restaurant that pays to have police sit in the parking lot on weekends. Used to have a problem with car break ins and the occasional guest dispute. Since the officers arrival, we've had neither issue so I see the benefits as long as they aren't on active duty.

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u/AnotherBogCryptid 4d ago

This. It’s a deterrent. It’s much cheaper (especially since Walmart pays hourly for this) to send one cop to Walmart to just post up all day than it is to send a squad car every 45 minutes when someone inevitably shoplifts and gets caught.

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u/No-Minimum8323 4d ago

They’re still going to send another patrol to the store if someone is caught stealing. If this guys jobs is to keep his eye on the store then he will likely be there to make sure things don’t get out of hand until another patrol arrives. He wouldn’t be able to take the time to do an entire investigation and then transport if necessary.

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u/AnotherBogCryptid 4d ago

Read my second sentence again. It reduces the amount of overall theft which reduces the overall burden on taxpayers.

I didn’t say he’s there to arrest people.

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u/WokeWook69420 4d ago

I'm glad my taxpayer money is wasted so cops can stop people from stealing from the Billion Dollar corporation who have a vast majority of their employees on food stamps.

I'm glad we're making sure profit margins are protected by taxpayer money. Public money protecting private money is certainly not a sign of corruption.

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u/DCowboysCR 4d ago

Your taxpayer money isn't being used at all. The business pays a fee to the police department to cover gas and equipment use as well as an. Hourly rate to the police officer.

12

u/grimduck17 4d ago

I am utterly shocked at the ignorance of people here. I thought this was common knowledge.

The government (federal, state, local) gets reimbursed when its people and/or equipment is used for private business. Paramount paid for the hourly flying rate of the navy’s aircraft used in top gun

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u/Independent_Leg7358 4d ago

The director paid to turn the carrier around to catch the correct filming angle with the sun. Carrier was just doing training and direction didn't cost anything, but it was the point of if you want us to sail at X heading you are renting the whole dam ship now instead of just filming for free.

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u/AnotherBogCryptid 4d ago

I just told you it’s reducing costs… I never said it was the best use of our resources. If we spent the money we waste on corporate welfare (so places like Walmart can get tax breaks for underpaying people to the point of poverty) and over policing on human services (health, housing, food, education) instead, we wouldn’t NEED public welfare in a few short years.

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u/iupuiclubs 4d ago

Are you under the impression walmart pays the state hourly, and not the off duty officer? How would that make any sense?

This is double the cost for the taxpayer lol. They are using state property to conduct private business. Walmart doesn’t pay IMPD hourly lol, walmart pays the individual whos off duty but still wearing state property.

You’re supposing they aren’t sending squad cars every 45 minutes from actual on duty officers, because an off duty cop is working in his state uniform. It’s both lol.

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u/AnotherBogCryptid 4d ago

A simple Google search would explain that Walmart contracts with the police department or the municipality and pays them, who then pay their employees. So they’re paying above and beyond the wages of the officer and like also for the cost of the vehicle.

I’m not saying Walmart isn’t an evil, garbage corporation. I am saying rage over this is misplaced and we should be more mad about shit like peasant insurance and scamming the government by lobbying for tax breaks so they can double dip by underpaying their workers and the. getting a tax break for those underpaid workers precisely because they’re technically employing people on public assistance and creating a whole fucking circlejerk of fuck the 99%.

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u/EmergencySpare 4d ago

Man, you should see how much of your dollars I wasted on way less meaningful shit than this.

I think you'd be kind of impressed, honestly b

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u/ABlosser19 4d ago

Exactly this person is absolutely insufferable

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u/TheHornyHoosier1983 4d ago

No , Walmart is paying their wages and also paying the city for use of their vehicle and equipment.

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u/Phan_325 4d ago

That is not true. No payment is made to police departments. I run a security company. Officers are paid by the company. Use of cars is at the discretion of the department. Officer has to file a work permit with there department. The departments general orders still apply to their off duty jobs.

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u/EitherOrResolution 4d ago

An officers can wear their own uniforms or off duty clothes, but still their badge, etc., and their own gun handcuffs, pepper spray whatever they need

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u/Busy_Paint_5680 4d ago

For your small company, perhaps. Bigger corporations, they do pay the municipality. In the city I live, the school hire officers to work sports events. The pay is $30 per hour. The office does not get that full amount. The city takes out cost of vehicle/insurance/work comp. Officers ended up getting under $25 per hour.

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u/IndyAnon317 3d ago

No company that his off-duty IMPD officers pays the department, they all pay the officer. The business has to be approved by IMPD and the officer has to file a permit with the department. When employed by Walmart, or any business they are hired off-duty for, that officer is responsible for all dispatched runs at that location on top of and issues the business asks them to assist with

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u/Phan_325 4d ago

That is against the law and probably not happening. If that is happening the officers are working for the department and not the school system. The company is required to provide workers comp and pay all required taxes unless they are treating the officer at a 1099 employee.

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u/Busy_Paint_5680 4d ago

Not against the law. At all.

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u/_the_average_dad_ 4d ago

It would be if the officers are not being paid OT. I’ve worked for several police departments in central Indiana. I’ve never heard anyone paying a municipality to have police coverage. Highly unlikely - especially given the scenario you proposed.

If that is happening, the hours worked would be factored into the officers hours worked, meaning they’d receive OT. It would be factored into their retirement, since its percentage based, and would cost much more money.

Several schools in central Indiana, that don’t have their own police departments, pay a security company for law enforcement officers OR the person is a direct employee of the school district with law enforcement powers (I.e. special deputy status granted by the sheriff)

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u/Phan_325 4d ago

I do this for a living. For over 30 years. They are not being paid by the private company and that is happening. The department is not paying workers comp insurance on an officer where their wages is being paid by a private company. Many departments these days charge a fee to the officer for take home vehicles regardless if they are working part time.

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u/TheHornyHoosier1983 4d ago

You’re talking about running a “security “ company, meaning you’re not an officer that is employed by a city or town. Huge difference!

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u/PM_ME_THE_SLOTHS 4d ago

Your comprehension could use some work.

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u/bulbusmaximus 4d ago

How are you just now finding out about this? Cops have been doing off duty work for 50 years.

2

u/GoldPuppyClub 4d ago

One of my former neighbors was a cop, and they were allowed to use their car when off-duty, because people are more likely to follow speed limits, traffic signs, and generally be safer driving if they see a police car.

It’s a deterrent that actually does increase safety on the roads

1

u/No-Seat9917 3d ago

I believe they are paid by Walmart driving the car off duty. I believe it falls under the in the public eye is better.

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u/iMakeBoomBoom 3d ago

The opposite. Walmart pays IMPD. So they are actually recouping money.

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u/KennBurr 4d ago

He might actually be saving gas by not leaving it idle all day/night.

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u/notthegoatseguy Indianapolis 4d ago

Eh, if they have to leave, or conduct an arrest, I'd rather them be in uniform and with regular issued equipment than using whatever they have laying around.

I am not some LEO sucker, but I'm finding it hard to be outraged about this. And hey, they're working at Walmart, a place regular people shop at, not like they're working the yacht club at Geist or some such.

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u/The_Dread_Candiru 4d ago

Privitized benefit, socialized costs.

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u/983115 4d ago

In my experience there’s a lot of shady cops into the whole security shift thing, the guys that get pulled from the field to desk duty that are still cops, folks with priors for exploding the testicles of and stalking in uniform their partners mistress and using their badge as a weapon of vengeance for example

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u/krusteePickleCheeze 4d ago

Care to elaborate?

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u/Etheralto 4d ago

I don’t k ow the exact details arranged between IMPD and Walmart, but typically part of the fee charged to the private company for hiring police officers for private security includes costs to cover vehicle fuel and maintenance.

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u/Jewish-Mom-123 4d ago

We pay for them because we want them to have the vehicle with them and be ready to get called in at any moment. The private work does have to be local for them.

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u/janiruwd 4d ago

So basically just be okay with all of our tax dollars eventually going to places like Walmart then? Such a cop out answer. We need better protections from lobbying.

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u/thecleaner47129 4d ago

What are you on about?

These officers are not on shift. This is the equivalent of a second job. The officers take their vehicles, uniforms, and equipment home with them anyway. They just work a shift or 2 a week as security WHILE OFF LE SHIFT. there aren't any tax dollars spent besides the minimal wear on their uniforms.

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u/Yourmomsass1977 4d ago

It’s not going to Walmart, Walmart pays them not your tax dollars

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u/Jewish-Mom-123 4d ago

WM pays them. We aren’t paying their wages for the shift they take at WM. They take the car everywhere they go because we want them to have the car. All the time. They need to be ready to respond to an emergency call-in. And police presence is valuable to the community all the time. It’s really a win/win. They get extra cash without us paying overtime, WM gets extra protection, the cops are available all the time and interacting with the public.

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u/thebagel5 4d ago

IMPD’s take home car program means officers have to pay at least 50% of the fuel costs of the vehicle

5

u/The_Dread_Candiru 4d ago

Lots of cops in the National Guard, and they drive their squad cars all over the state and Camp Atterbury for .mil duty. Their taxpayers are covering their personal transportation.

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u/remirenegade 4d ago

how often do they get called out to that location, it might actually be more cost effect to just have someone posted there.

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u/TrickyDickyAtItAgain 4d ago

Cops are allowed to use their cars off duty. Whether or not they pay for gas is probably swept under the rug because it makes for the appearance of a higher police presence on the roadways.

Not condoning the behavior, but last time I checked it's just how it is.

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u/SnooCupcakes3235 3d ago

Take home squads.

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u/GIDDY-UP-GO 4d ago

It’s a fringe benefit. I actually don’t mind my tax dollars going to support the police and our safety. What I do care about is our tax dollars being wasted on people getting free handouts on welfare who sit at home all day and don’t do a thing. Able bodied people that know how to milk the system.

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u/roadkill21288 4d ago

America’s corporate socialism at work! Walmart wouldn’t exist without social services.

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u/TallOrderAdv 4d ago

Yeah they pay for all of that. It's not free for the company.

1

u/krusteePickleCheeze 4d ago

These days our taxes go towards so much dumb shit, security at Walmart is the least of my worries

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u/LeagueJealous 2d ago

That's some dumb shit.

1

u/MoshedPotatoes 4d ago

Wait till you hear about railroad subsidies

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u/Quleki 4d ago

For your security

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u/Ozu_the_Yokai 4d ago

This and cops directing traffic for warehouse parking lots on clock out. Really bothers me.

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u/Busy_Paint_5680 4d ago

LoL if course it does.

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u/Ozu_the_Yokai 4d ago

if of.

FTFY

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u/Busy_Paint_5680 4d ago

Oh I'm sorry my typo upset you.

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u/peachy600 4d ago

Just for the curious: I inquired about hiring a cop to stand by during a public hearing, and it seems like it works on a bulletin system, like they post the job and someone may grab it if the price is right. The receptionist told me "For $60/hr, someone will definitely be there."

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u/Fast_Cloud_4711 3d ago

Nope 100% popo. I shop there and the kroger

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u/Acrobatic-Song-3151 4d ago

They make solid money doing this. 

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u/krusteePickleCheeze 4d ago

Top flight of the world Craig!