Side Jobs Causing Problems in Maryland

The Anne Arundel County Police Department has a gambling investigation unit that has a captain and a lieutenant who also have side jobs as security guards for a construction company that is building a casino at Arundel Mills. Capt. Randy Jones and Lt. Robert Adams are the two police officers who are in charge of the police department’s vice unit. They are also two of 18 officers from the county who are on the payroll of the Cordish Cos., the developer who will operate the casino.

“Having people who regulate gambling working for a casino operator is just mind-boggling,” said Christopher S. Rizek, who headed the Ethics Commission from 2004 to 2008.

“Anybody working vice, narcotics or organized Crime should under no circumstances work (secondary employment). It compromises the officer and it compromises the agency,” said Andrew J. Scott III, a former chief of the Boca Raton (Fla.) Police Department. “It just doesn’t look good.”

Anne Arundel County Police Chief, James Teare Sr., had the following to say about the situation: “None of the secondary employment at the Arundel Mills construction site is a conflict of interest,” Teare said. “We have no regulatory authority over the construction site (as Police officers).”

Some officials from local unions and come council members have been criticizing the police department’s higher-ups for working second jobs as security guards. This type of practice is nearly unheard of in other jurisdictions.

“It’s unfortunate that the commanders are taking these jobs when Police officers really need them to make ends meet,” said Cpl. O’Brien Atkinson, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police.

Teare went on to defend the police department’s policy, noting that there are no laws or regulations that bar commanding officers from working other jobs on the side. “Secondary employment by all Police officers is a lawful and regulated activity,” he said. Teare also explained that all supervisors must also signoff on any second job for officers.

County Executive John R. Leopold released the following statement about the situation via spokesman David Abrams: “The county executive has been very clear that he supports secondary employment by Police officers. This applies to the entire department regardless of rank. There are guidelines in place to review requests for secondary employment, and those guidelines are followed. We have seen no evidence of any conflicts.”

Abrams then went on to chastise Atkinson and others for speaking to the press about his bosses: “It is unfortunate that the union president is attacking the people who have supported officers in their efforts to work secondary employment,” he said.

Approved to work side jobs, specifically to work security for BGE, within the police department include Teare, Maj. Pamela Davis, Capt. Jerald Flemings and Capt. Randy Jones. Teare, Maj. Pamela Davis, Capt. Jerald Flemings and Capt. Randy Jones have permission to work security for BGE.