WTOL reports quickie marts pay cops to patrol area

Tell me. When the construction at Harroun and Monroe created a permanent bottleneck Kroger hired a Lucas County deputy sheriff to prevent people from cutting through the Kroger parking lot. The deputy freely admitted he was getting paid under the table, and that the Sylvania cops regretted not taking the deal, which they had been offered first and rejected.

i'm pretty sure it's legal to hire off duty cops to provide security. it happens ALL the time

Agree with upso. I know a TPD officer who often works security at UT football games (off-duty).

Seems like a smart, pro-active idea by business owners who are struggling to make it in Toledo.

From the Jan 25, 2010 WTOL story :

It is common. Particularly car dealerships hire off-duty officers to patrol their lots at night.

OK, this makes even less sense.

If you are paying $20/hour, why aren't the cops inside the store? What does it mean when they say that they are "patrolling" the areas? Also, are they using police vehicles or personal ones?

I'm not against it, but the police don't have the best record for "going by the book" lately.

Quite possibly means they are walking around the parking lot. I don't think they can use their vehicles in off duty work.

From the WTOL story:

This is a direct result of the lawsuit the carry-out owners filed against the city over the carry-out licensing law. As part of the settlement, the owners agreed to hire off-duty law enforcement to provide patrols to address the claims of criminal activity.

The original legislation made the owners liable if anyone did anything illegal on their property, including a loss of their license even if they did everything within their power to prevent such activity on their property.

The Midwest Retailers Association was formed and sued the city...the case was settled last year with the contracted security as one of the terms of the settlement.

I know there is always a police office in the Kroger on Monroe and Secor after dark. I feel a lot more comfortable walking in and out of the store then the gas stations around there and I am a 23 year old male. I know its not directly my money but i say keep paying them to loiter around the parking lot/ front entrance. (just not the greatest neighborhood in my opinion)

Thanks Maggie. Stupid me, I always thought that we paid taxes to fund the police department, thus fighting crime. I guess hiring your own security is now the only option.

legislation made the owners liable if anyone did anything illegal on their property

Which is absolutely outrageous. Passing any law with this level of genuine stupidity and ignorance achieves only one thing: explaining why the city of Toledo is in such dire straits.

This has been going on for years.The sports arena used off duty police officers inside for crowd control.Krogers has used these police also inside their stores.I have seen them used at high school sporting events.I know of a few night club/bars that pay off duty police to watch their parking lots.This is nothing new so I don't quite understand why they are putting the spotlight on these businesses.

"This is nothing new so I don't quite understand why they are putting the spotlight on these businesses."

The answer could be in the WTOL news story bullet-pointed below:

• Carryout owners and city leaders have joined forces to launch a new program ...

• The problem, they say, is that many customers order food but then are too afraid to pick up their orders.

• "Loitering, shoplifting, unfortunately the tragedy we had on Lewis was just an extra push for us to think twice."

• The tragedy he refers to is the killing of Bassam "Sam" Kanouh who was shot last November while working the counter at Lewis Carryout on Lewis Avenue.

• "Hopefully, it will be copied and help keep our neighborhood safer," says City Council official Joe McNamara.

• The program began last week ...

And as Maggie stated above:

The proposed 2008 Toledo Food and Beverage Law - Convenience Stores

Blog: Midwest Retailers Association, LTD. v. City of Toledo

This is not good. I suppose we will go back to privatising fire services too. Like in the great London fire, Lloyds Insurance agency would put signs on the houses fire crews were NOT SUPPOSED TO SAVE!

The Republican push to cut taxes for the last thirty years has indeed made us "race for the bottom." We are almost there.

my only beef with cops working off duty is, the money they get paid, is all under the table. Straight Cash, how ethical is that? They make more money doing that then there regular pay, all tax free. The cops are everywhere, banks, grocery stores, bars. All CASH, ALL TAX FREE.

I am sorry, but it is not ALL CASH ALL TAX free. Not sure where you got that information or why you would believe it.

lol’s at the thought of a clerk at Kroger digging a few hundred out of petty cash to give to Sargeant Jones each night

"The Republican push to cut taxes for the last thirty years has indeed made us "race for the bottom." "

Since when has Toledo cut taxes? What about the "temporary" 3/4 percent payroll tax from 1983 that Toledo voters renew every few years? That 1983 "temporary" tax increase helped fund more Toledo police. It was renewed again two years ago. Toledo City Council member Wilma Brown warned voters that if that tax was not renewed ...

And now she's council prez. The 3/4 percent tax was renewed, but didn't Toledo reduce the police force anyway, at least for a while? Have you heard of the new city tax from three years ago that's code-named "refuse fee?" And now we may get a chance this year to vote ourselves another "temporary" city of Toledo tax increase. Population continues to decline, so the answer is to raise taxes. That's worked well for Toledo over the past 20 years.

Personally, I think these business owners are exaggerating the crime issue. After all, we have the Erie Street Market, a new baseball stadium, a new arena, a new science museum, bike paths, flowers at entry ways to the city, new trash cans, TPS rated Continuous Improvement, and a 3rd place finish in the 2007 LivCom competition. So it's impossible for these business owners to have safety concerns.

Couple of thoughts:

First, that sheriff that sits in Kroger after normal hours is either too busy flirting with cashiers or "bullcrapping" with other sheriff deputies to be paying attention to anything in parking lot. I've only seen them go outside when someone complains about someone "pan-handling". I rarely see them go outside on their own.

Second-police used to be paid for by taxes. If this is an "off-duty" thing then fine. If it creates overtime and is therefore paid for by certain business owners, that creates an issue. The issue is that how do you separate a typical patrol with an "overtime" patrol? I just don't quite understand how they say it is increased patrols and paid for by owners of business. Does that mean they patrol normally for 8 hours, then for the next 2, they only patrol near those businesses?

Also, I heard on tv that this was patrols, not cops stationed at stores. To me, I'd rather pay a security company for a guard inside the store, not "patrolling".

I know the Kroger store at Detroit and Glendale has a policeman there after dark. I imagine that he is paid by Kroger's. Anyone know if this is a policy at all Kroger stores in the area, or does each Kroger store have its own policy?

It must be the policy of the individual Kroger.

There are no officers at the Kroger near my house (in Sylvania), and I don't recall seeing them near my in-laws house either (in Lambertville).

I've shopped at 4 local Krogers. The Sylvania one doesn't appear to need one. The one on Alexis, Laskey, and Monroe street makes me feel the need to carry a weapon with me, both inside and outside the store.

weird. i go to those three krogers as well and never feel like im in harms way. maybe you need to move...

I'd be glad to take you with me after dark. You'll change your mind.
BTW, I don't feel like I'm in harms way, just feel the need to carry protection with me.

Hockeyfan, I'm at Miracle Mile after dark all the time. What the hell are you talking about?

Grocery stores are the new haunted houses….BOO!

I always go after dark...

Come check the one out on Suder, someone was carjacked there last year! And the Sheriffs basically do nothing but collect there CASH.

I know some places 1099 these folks but im sure that a very small amount. I know for fact one cop made 40K cash off Frucon when the 1-280 bridge was being built, just to sit in a car, and then alternate naps the next day with there partner.

Go down to the North End and check it out the carry-outs!

Maybe those who aren't worried are the ones I'm talking about.

I'm not saying I've been held up there or seen a murder, I'm just saying that you get a real peek into other "ways of life".
I still shop there and sometimes find it entertaining. But I also think the chances of something happening there is higher than other places.

kwi50, I shop at the Suder location a few times a week. I was literally there today. It is as safe as any other place. The off duty police there are not there to patrol the parking lot or look fo shoplifters. They are there to deter hold ups, period. And they are all paid with payroll CHECKS with the appropriate taxes deducted.Not sure why you are such a paranoid android. Car jackings happen everywhere, btw.

sorry, carjackings do not happen everywhere.

I'm not an expert on crime, but chances are greater to be held up, mugged, carjacked, or be a victim of a crime in areas where houses/apartments are cheaper. There is no way that Suder location is as safe as Sylvania. You may feel safe there but statistically speaking, you will be involved in some kind of crime there long before you'll be involved in one in Sylvania.

I did some research and assuming I have the correct zip code for the Suder Krogers, here is the comparision between that zip code and sylvania zip code. Looks like my guess was right.

http://www4.onboardnavigator.com/1.5/WebContent/OBWC_Report.aspx?&AID=607-51be26fbdb3b&CD_SID=CO001&Frame=0&Width=650&AgentID=&AgentEmail=&SearchID=1&SubSearchID=1&REFS=1&RTID=11&RID=18112|;24743|&PassBackValues=

I used to manage a store in Toledo, and on occasion we used off duty Toledo police officers to provide security. These officers insisted on being paid in CASH. This was the norm, and though our company required all other employees to be paid by check (with proper taxes deducted), it was understood that if we wanted REAL policemen and women, we had to pay in CASH (no taxes deducted).

Ryan, why do you feel the need to resort to name calling? kwi50 is NOT a "paranoid android". You are very rude.

do we have a lot of car jackings in toledo?

HF - and you can find worse and better statistics for neighborhoods as well. The point is that the Suder store is not some crime ridden grocery store as the above posts insinuate.
I guess I only know ethical cops then, because they don't take or expect cash. You honestly think that if this was the norm it would not have been brought to attention years ago? LOL!
Beenthere, don't you have COSI to worry about? I hardly think paranoid android hurt someones feelings, its actually pretty tame considering the half truths he has posted here. I will never understand why people feel so free on the internet to spew their conspiracy theories.

thanks for having my back on this on people! Conspiracy theories??? This is too funny!!! Get over it Cops want the cash!! I would too!

WATCH OUT I'M A COP!!!!!!!!!

I know quite a few cops that do security on the side. Some get 1099 and some get a regular pay check with taxes taken out already. 1099 isn't a free cash ride.

I think he is a lost cause, so people will believe what they WANT to believe instead of FACTS.

I still get a chuckle out of thinking a corporation like Kroger is just handing over cash to off duty police. The internal auditor comes in and asks “Whats this line item that says 200 dollars from petty cash for Sgt.Jones?” And Nancy the cashier says “Oh, that’s for security”. LMAO!

There are checks and balances in place for a reason.

I'm sure if a cop was doing "questionable" or "wrong" things he'd be sure to let you know too.
Like, "Hi, I'm a cop and I take kickbacks". Not likely.

Now we're not believing statistics, but rather one person's opinion. Very good. Now I know.

When were statistics on cops taking money under the table for security posted? Never, now you know.

Here's some for you:
2 toledo cops driving under influence while on job

1 toledo cop found a drug user by drug test

1 toledo cop with expired driver's license

Sounds more like "Police Academy" than TPD

Sounds to me that they are just human mortals.

yep, human mortals that have the power and authority to shoot and kill. Personally, I'd like to see a little more responsibility. If your qualifications are that low for what you want on the police force, I don't want them to do anything for me.

Seriously, you cannot put "standard" or "average" people in positions that require them to be more than just that. They must be of a higher quality and morality. Otherwise, what you have is abuse of power. When you start excusing people of accountability, what you have is a bunch of people that just "let things go" because you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Instead, I want better people to have the better jobs.

Sounds like you just have it out for law enforcement for some reason.

My point was they don't take cash and your response looks to be that they must if a few have been caught doing other illegal things. It's ridiculous.

no, my point of view is that you do not know whether they take cash or not, and if recent events are any indication, they probably do.

By the way, I do not have much respect for TPD. This is based on personal experiences and the above listed incidents.

LOL, Yep Republicans like me, our overwhelming influence, and our ability to cut taxes are the reason Toledo is screwed.

Hey how long has it been since a Republican mayor in Toledo? Just wondering.

I guess it is time for us to hire robo cops or maybe some androids.They could be programmed without some of the human failings that many of us have inherited.

I don't know why it is so hard to expect more out of those who are supposed to hold higher positions. I guess you'd be ok with a doctor that is a butter finger and makes a mistake during surgery because, "he's just human". That is ridiculous.
Just because our politicians have dirtied the names of their offices does not mean we cannot expect or demand better people hold the more meaningful jobs. I do not want a "forgetful" person as a cop. I do not want a drug user, drinker, or someone who cannot pay attention to details as a cop. Nor do I want some lard-ass that is way over the bodyfat limit as a cop. Are my expectations too high? No. Police used to be looked up to. Now they are just considered "human".

I have said that I DO KNOW they do not take cash. Do you know anything about Sarbanes Oxley? Major companies cannot pay "cash" for jack anymore. But I give up, your the typical extremist that rather believe your "hunch". Carry on.

This link,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Toledo,_Ohio, shows a list of the mayors of Toledo, OH. Donna Owens was the last Republican mayor, but the city was actually run by a city manager.

This link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Toledo,_Ohio, shows a list of the mayors of Toledo, OH. Donna Owens was the last Republican mayor, but the city was actually run by a city manager.