A proposal that would allow the City of Minneapolis to charge fees for off-duty police work is approved by a council committee.
Proponents say it would help recoup costs incurred by officers' use of city-owned weapons and cars, and even police uniforms worn during those jobs. Those jobs are typically private security.
Council President Elliot Payne says they would also be able to track just how much off-duty work officers, in an understaffed department, are doing.
"This is just a a good governance step when it comes to having the infrastructure to do the tracking, to ensure that our officers are not getting fatigued and worn out," says Payne.
"And that they're they're ready for their primary responsibility, which is on-duty shifts in service of the residents of Minneapolis."
Fee proponents say the practice can get expensive. The ordinance's authors say both a city and MPD analysis showed a fee could have allowed the city to recoup a significant amount of money last year.
"They shared that the city could have recouped up to $1.4 million if we did have some level of off-duty program that included fees for the equipment and resources that are being used," explained Councilmember Robin Wonsley.
The proposal now goes to the full city council.