Off-Duty Deputy Employment
Per Florida Statute 30.2905, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) administers a program for the employment of sheriff’s deputies during off-duty hours for public and private services. Off-duty deputies are generally hired to maintain order, facilitate traffic flow, provide security, and escort funeral processions, heavy equipment or wide load transports.
In order to hire a deputy for an off-duty job, an Off-Duty Deputy Request Form must be submitted to the Off-Duty Events Unit five (5) working days prior to your event. Requests received after the five (5) day advance notice, are made with the understanding that there may not be sufficient time for approval by the Off-Duty Events Unit, subsequent posting to the Off-Duty Job Application, and acceptance by the off-duty deputy. Off-Duty Employers are defined as private businesses and governmental entities other than HCSO. Compensation and/or benefits of any kind from off-duty employers shall not constitute compensation and/or benefits from HCSO.
The Off-Duty Events Unit is responsible for the overall management of off-duty services to include billing and collection of all applicable administrative, mileage, and engine hour fees.
Disclaimer
Your ability to hire an off-duty deputy is at the sole discretion of HCSO. We reserve the right to decline job requests that may be deemed inappropriate for deputies.
The off-duty program is completely voluntary. There is no guarantee that your job request will be filled. It is the responsibility of the hiring entity to contact the Off-Duty Events Unit during normal business hours prior to the projected start time to confirm that your job request was filled.
HCSO reserves the right to cancel off-duty related employment details without notice and to recall agency personnel for official duty at any time.
Information submitted to procure the services of an off-duty deputy will become a public document pursuant to § 119.07, Fla. Stat. (2015).
Off-Duty Services
Security
Provide security and maintain order at various events and businesses.
Traffic Control
Direct and facilitate traffic flow at various events and construction sites.
Escorts
Escort the transportation of heavy equipment or wide load transports where a County or State permit is required. Heavy equipment and wide load transports require a minimum of two (2) marked cars.
Funeral Escorts
Funeral escorts require two (2) marked cars for the first ten (10) vehicles in the procession, and one (1) additional marked car for every additional ten (10) vehicles. Funeral escorts are conducted in accordance with Florida Statute 316.1974.
Prohibited Off-Duty Services
We reserve the right to decline job requests that may be deemed inappropriate for deputies, violates Florida State Law or HCSO policy, or creates any conflict of interest with HCSO.
Areas of Off-Duty job employment that are specifically prohibited by law or official directives of HCSO include, but are not limited to:
- Employment at establishments where the primary business is the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Employment involving bail bond agencies.
- Investigative and / or security related work for attorneys, insurance companies, collection agencies, security firms, or any non-law enforcement entity.
- Employment as private watchman, private guards, or private store detectives.
- Employment where performance implies participation in partisan politics.
- Jobs involving civil matters (domestic situations, labor disputes, union gatherings, landlord/tenant disputes, etc.)
Permits
Off-Duty Employers are responsible for obtaining applicable permits or other forms of approval required by law.
Hourly Compensation Rates
All deputies are required to be paid a three (3) hour minimum. Deputies are paid a premium rate on certain holidays. The applicable holiday hourly rate is based on the start date of the job, not the end date. Holiday rates will apply on: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Deputy wages are paid directly to the deputy by the Off-Duty Employer not more than fourteen (14) days after completion of the off-duty detail. Deputy wages are not invoiced by HCSO as noted on the Off-Duty Deputy Request Form. The Off-Duty Employer is responsible for any tax liabilities, and as such, is responsible for obtaining an IRS Form W-9 from the deputy. It is also the responsibility of the Off-Duty Employer to record hours worked by the deputy, provide timely payment, withhold appropriate taxes and provide year-end earnings statements in accordance with IRS guidelines.
HCSO does not accept off-duty related employment payroll or compensation checks, direct deposit notices, tax forms, or other types of off-duty employment correspondence on behalf of deputies. The Off-Duty Events Unit will not provide Off-Duty Employers with the social security numbers and/or home addresses of deputies.
Compensation Fees
Deputies and non-sworn personnel shall receive the following hourly rate (as determined by job staffing requirements):
| Employee Type Description | Effective Rate 10/1/2023 |
|---|---|
| Deputy | $42.00 |
| Supervisor | $50.00 |
| *The holiday rate of pay will be an additional $5.00/hour | |
HCSO Administrative Fees
The administrative fee and other applicable fees are payable to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
| Fee Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Administrative | $4.00 per hour / per deputy |
| Mileage | $0.25 per mile / per vehicle |
| Engine Hour | $1.00 per hour / per vehicle |
Administrative and other applicable fees are invoiced monthly by HCSO. Mileage fees will be charged when the off-duty event requires the use of any HCSO vehicle to be driven during the off-duty detail. Engine hour fees will be charged when the off-duty event requires the use of flashing overhead lights by the HCSO vehicle. Advance payment may be required depending on the number of deputies required and type of job assignment.
HCSO Fees Remittance Address
Please mail HCSO Fee payments to:
Off Duty Events Unit
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
P.O. Box 3371Tampa, FL 33601
Requests for Service
Initial Requests
To hire a deputy for an off-duty assignment, the Off-Duty Employer must complete, sign and submit all of the following required forms at one time to the Off-Duty Events Unit:
- Off-Duty Deputy Request Form
- Use this form for all services other than escorts.
- Escort Deputies Request Form
- Use this form for escort services only.
- Indemnification Agreement
- Must be updated and submitted on an annual basis via:
- Email: OffDutyAccts@hcso.tampa.fl.us
- Fax: (813) 242-1859
- Must be updated and submitted on an annual basis via:
- IRS Form W-9
All requests for off-duty deputies must be made in writing with the completed forms submitted via e-mail or fax. Failure to complete all applicable information on any form may result in processing delays.
Subsequent Requests
Once the Off-Duty Employer account is established (by submittal of all forms described under Initial Requests), all subsequent requests may be made by e-mail or fax of an Off-Duty Deputy Request Form.
Amending Requests
Any amendments to the initial job request must be submitted in writing. Revisions may be noted on the original requests and submitted via e-mail or fax to the Off-Duty Events Unit.
Off-Duty Employers shall be required to employ a sufficient number of deputies to ensure safe and efficient law enforcement coverage. Upon review of your Request for Off-Duty Deputies form, the Off-Duty Events Unit may require additional deputies in order to provide proper staff levels based on your service. All Off-Duty Employers will be contacted of any required change in personnel in order to continue with the service request. A revised Request for Off-Duty Deputies form will be required to document the staffing change.
Late Requests
Requests received after the five (5) day advance notice, are made with the understanding that there may not be sufficient time for approval by the Off-Duty Events Unit, subsequent posting of the Off-Duty Job, and acceptance by the off-duty deputy.
Cancellations
All job cancellations must be received in writing via email or fax directly to the Off-Duty Events Unit two (2) hours in advance of the job start time. All cancellations occurring after business hours shall be submitted in writing to the After Hours Fax number as stated on the Requests for Off-Duty Deputies form. The cancellation notification time will be recorded as the time when the written notification is received. In the event a job is canceled with less than a two hour notice, a fee of $99.00 or equivalent to the three hour minimum per deputy, will be assessed to the Off-Duty Employer. An administrative fee of $12.00 per scheduled deputy will also be payable to HCSO.
In the event of an emergency situation, telephone cancellations may be accepted under extenuating circumstances, and will be approved only when directly speaking with Off-Duty Events Unit or After Hours personnel. Under no circumstance will a voice mail message be accepted. Extenuating circumstances will be limited to After Hour road construction jobs only when dealing with inclement weather delays. Approved telephone cancellations will also require a two (2) hour advance notice and a written cancellation sent via e-mail or fax the following business day.
Falsifying Request
Filing false information on a Request for Off-Duty Deputies form could result in the denial of that request and any future requests.
Workers Compensation
Per Florida Statute 30.2905, public or private employers of a deputy sheriff shall be responsible for the acts or omissions of the deputy sheriff while performing services for that employer while off-duty, including workers’ compensation benefits. A deputy sheriff who sustains an injury during off-duty hours while enforcing the criminal, traffic, or penal laws of this state, shall be regarded as working on-duty.
Non-law enforcement related off-duty injuries are not covered by HCSO. Deputies who sustain a non-law enforcement injury or are disabled while working for an Off-Duty Employer are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits per Florida Workers Compensation law, Section 440.02(24), Florida Statutes. Injury and disability benefits for deputies working off-duty related employment are usually limited to those provided by the Off-Duty Employer.