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Contact us 24/7 | Owned and Operated by Law Enforcement Executives
In the fast-paced, high-stress environment of healthcare, a robust security presence isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. From managing volatile patients in the ER to securing hospital perimeters, many hospital networks and urgent care chains recognize that off-duty police officers offer a level of authority and de-escalation expertise that standard guards may not provide.
But in a rush to secure their facilities, many healthcare organizations make a critical, costly mistake: they try to manage their off-duty police program internally.
Whether it’s relying on a precinct sign-up sheet or directly paying officers as 1099 contractors, “direct-hiring” may seem like a straightforward solution. In reality, it can expose hospital networks to a web of administrative headaches, critical coverage gaps, and potential legal and financial risks.
If your hospital is managing its own off-duty police roster, here are some of the hidden risks you may be taking on—and how a fully managed security program can help eliminate them.
When you hire off-duty officers directly, you’re not just bringing on security—you may also be taking on a significant administrative burden.
Your HR and accounting teams can suddenly find themselves responsible for collecting W-9s, processing independent contractor payments, issuing 1099s at year-end, and maintaining tax and payment records for every officer who takes a shift. In a sprawling hospital network, this administrative workload can drain internal resources and create ongoing payroll and compliance challenges.
Security in a hospital is a 24/7/365 requirement. When you rely on a precinct sign-up sheet or an informal text thread to fill security shifts, you’re often at the mercy of individual officers’ primary schedules.
What happens when your scheduled officer is mandated to work a double shift at their department? What happens when an officer makes an arrest during their primary shift and is unexpectedly subpoenaed to court on the day they’re supposed to be guarding your emergency room?
With a direct-hire model, finding a replacement can become the hospital’s responsibility. Your Chief Security Officer or security team may be forced to scramble at the last minute, making frantic phone calls to find qualified coverage.
For a healthcare facility operating around the clock, even a single unexpected vacancy can create a significant security concern.
This is the hidden risk that can keep Hospital Risk Management and Legal teams awake at night.
Imagine an off-duty officer is working a shift at your hospital as a 1099 contractor. A violent incident breaks out and the officer is severely injured while attempting to restrain a patient on your property.
Who pays for their medical bills? Who covers their lost wages if they’re unable to work for six months?
The answer can become complicated when an officer is hired directly as an independent contractor. Depending on the circumstances, worker classification, applicable state law, insurance coverage, and the specific contractual arrangement, the hospital may face exposure to workers’ compensation disputes, personal injury claims, or other legal and financial consequences.
Without the appropriate insurance coverage and risk-management structure, your organization could be assuming risks that extend far beyond simply providing security.
Hospital security should mitigate risk—not create it. That’s why healthcare organizations can benefit from partnering with a professional, fully managed off-duty police provider such as First Responder Protective Services (FRPS).
FRPS provides a Fully Managed Off-Duty Police Service designed to help healthcare facilities reduce administrative burden, maintain consistent coverage, and better manage the risks associated with off-duty police programs.
With our “One-Call Simplicity,” you tell us when and where you need security, and we handle the rest:
Your legal, HR, accounting, and risk management teams already have enough on their plates. Managing an off-duty police program internally can add unnecessary administrative responsibilities and create additional exposure for your organization.
It’s time to consider a professional, fully managed approach to hospital security.
Get a Security Quote Today and discover how First Responder Protective Services can help protect your hospital’s people, property, and reputation.
Contact FRPS 24/7 at (800) 757-3301 or sales@offdutytx.com.
