Police officers find creative ways to generate extra income

FRANKLIN, Ind. (AP) - When a former police car went up for sale for $4,000, Kevin Conjelko saw a business opportunity.

As a reserve detective with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Conjelko volunteers to help out with investigations of minor crimes, such as vehicle and home break-ins, and spends 15 to 20 hours a week in the sheriff's office. Through that work, he knew how often burglaries and break-ins were happening, and he came up with an idea. He would offer up a marked patrol car to be parked at local businesses, for a fee, making potential burglars think there was an officer there.

In two years, Conjelko expanded the business. He now has five decoy cars that are parked at local businesses and now leaves cars at empty houses so they are not vandalized. Typically each contract comes with a four-month commitment, according to the Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/1KG0Adq ).

Side jobs are common for local police officers and are typically in work that is related to their job, such as providing security at concerts and athletic events and directing traffic for churches on Sunday mornings.

Local departments ask that any off-duty work be approved in writing by their chief, and officers can't work in places where alcohol is the main source of income, like a bar.

But officers can be creative about how they spend their off time.

Instead of doing the typical security work, Bargersville patrolman William Johnson works where he can talk about his hobbies and get paid for it.

Johnson has been a customer at hunting and fishing supply store Honey Creek Tackle since it opened five years ago. One day, he stopped in to say hello to the owner, who is a friend, and was asked to work on his days off from the police department.

Four-and-a-half years later, Johnson still works for Honey Creek Tackle. Since he loves working both jobs, he usually only takes one or two days off per month to spend time with family, he said.

"Basically I get to paid to talk about hunting, fishing and guns. I get paid to talk about my hobbies," Johnson said. "It's a way for me to pay for my hobbies without taking money from my main job that pays my bills."

Side jobs are how Conjelko earns a living, since the reserve job with the sheriff's office does not give him a paycheck.

Until three years ago, Conjelko worked as a registered nurse, but he didn't have a passion for medical work and wanted to transition into another career.

His passion was in law enforcement, and he spent a year-and-a-half getting the training needed to do that work. He became a reserve deputy for the sheriff's office and went through additional training to be able to work as a detective.

"It's been the happiest three years of my life," he said.

Conjelko has to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.

He spent a year getting to know the people who hire officers to work when they are off-duty, such as providing security at fairs or keeping crowds in line at hockey games.

After bringing in steady money from that work, Conjelko started his business to rent out decoy patrol cars to businesses overnight.

Each car brings in up to $750 per month, so he has that guaranteed income, but he still works security jobs regularly at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and for small businesses looking for a security guard, he said.

After he bought his first used squad car, he began renting it out to banks, construction sites or small businesses to park in front overnight so criminals would think there is an officer at the business around the clock.

Some businesses pay him to sit at the site overnight, while others choose to just use a decoy car, Conjelko said.

Since he hears about crimes all day, he looks for businesses that have reported thefts or break-ins.

He then drives by and gives the owner his card. Out of every seven or eight people he contacts, one typically signs up for a contract, Conjelko said.

"I have never not seen a person's jaw drop when I tell them what I do," Conjelko said. "So I knew I was on to something."

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Information from: Daily Journal, http://www.dailyjournal.net