I'm fed up...police traffic control near I-10W access road (daycare, Home Depot)

[Rustybolt]

OK, think I finally figured this out and I'm not happy. Just about every weekday I have noticed two police vehicles running lights and having traffic cones out on the access road of I-10W north of DeZavala at the intersection of a side street called Casa Bella. They are blocking an entire lane of traffic. This is just north of the Home Depot and near the brake check. They create traffic congestion and, of course, since they have lights running the traffic slows to 20 mph. It appears all they are doing is creating a traffic mess. From what I can tell they have been hired by a place down the street on Casa Bella called "Mini Town" which does birthday parties and so forth. So...can anyone hire off duty police to slow down the traffic on an interstate access road for their own convenience? I mean for Christ's sake, is the whole thing driven by who pays for what? I note one of the vehicles is a new Hummer...no doubt lots of OT to pay for that thing and the gas. I love our hard working crimefighters as much as anyone, but this is a public nuisance. Who the heck do you even complain to?

[Proffer]

I've noticed this too and thought it was odd. Why would that place hire cops there?

[Rustybolt]

I really don't have a clue and it baffles me. I've seen churches do this on Sunday or for special events, but not every day. This is ridiculous.

[Soviet]

Interesting weirdness. Around what time of the weekday is this? I'd like to check it out one of these days if/when I have time.

[cwcavazos]

A daycare on Huebner does the same thing everyweek day. I don't know the name, but it's before Babcock.

[Neshomamench]

First of all....you dont understand the difference between overtime and an off duty job. Overtime means they are getting paid by the city for doing city police work beyond 40 hours a week. An off duty job is just that. They could be doing all kinds of things from working security at a bank to escorting a shipment of Rolexes. Off duty jobs are paid for by the group who need the Officer.

Second, Do you have any idea what SAPD Officers make? It is a good wage and being able to afford a new Hummer is well within reason. You also have no idea if it is a higher ranking Officer working an off duty shift. It is not unreasonable for patrol cops to make 6 figures. For higher ranking officers it is even easier. BTW, point of order, there are no "new" Hummers, as the company went out of business almost 18 months ago...

For a third thought...all off duty gigs at just about all agencies (and for sure at SAPD) must be approved. Having said that, As bad as you think the problem is, chances are very high it would be much worse without the traffic control.

There are simply some things that only a licensed peace officer can do. Sometimes that service is needed by a non governmental entity. A funeral escort is an easy example. Stopping traffic on public roads for non emergency reasons is another.

[Neshomamench]

Originally Posted by Rustybolt

I really don't have a clue and it baffles me. I've seen churches do this on Sunday or for special events, but not every day. This is ridiculous.

Again, if the business has high traffic, you really cant stop that. It is just the nature of things. Chances are high that the situation would be worse if the Officer was not directing traffic. Chances are high that is was bad and that is why they hired an Officer.

[Rustybolt]

Originally Posted by Neshomamench

Again, if the business has high traffic, you really cant stop that. It is just the nature of things. Chances are high that the situation would be worse if the Officer was not directing traffic. Chances are high that is was bad and that is why they hired an Officer.

If they were actually directing traffic I might understand. All they do is put out cones and sit in their vehicles with their lights on. Not complaining about OT or off duty or whatever. Complaing about the traffic situation they are creating. They are doing more harm than good. That is my whole point. This isn't a discussin about OT or off duty time. Sorry if you got that impression. This is about creating a traffic nuisance.

[Rustybolt]

Originally Posted by Soviet

Interesting weirdness. Around what time of the weekday is this? I'd like to check it out one of these days if/when I have time.

I saw it last Friday (yesterday) at about 2:30 pm. Seems to occur around this time on weekdays.

[DexterCat]

if they are blocking traffic, it requires approval from SAPD. since they are out there, blocking traffic as you put it, that means SAPD approved it. call SAPD. you wont get the answer youre seeking here.