Movie Company Hires Off Duty McLean Police Officers

Some neighbors were asking who paid the Fairfax County police officers who blocked off streets for Ben Affleck and his movie crew that filmed in McLean the weekend of Nov. 18.

Answer: The movie company paid the officers, all of whom were off-duty. Affleck was in McLean directing and starring in "Argo," a new film based on a CIA mission during the takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran in 1979.

According to McLean District Police Commander Capt. Steve Thompson, it works this way: Off-duty employment of county officers by private entities is guided by a Department General Order. It provides guidance on avoiding conflicts of interest or the appearance of a conflict between the officers' professional employment and their off-duty work.

The officers were paid $50 an hour, Thompson said.

To hire an officer, the prospective employer completes an application provided at the District Station. The application is reviewed by a station commander to ensure the job is appropriate and worker's compensation insurance is afforded by the applicant. (In case the officer is injured.)

At McLean, the station commander or deputy commander sends the approved applications to the overtime coordinator (he receives no compensation for this activity other than priority in selection of an off-duty assignment). The coordinator negotiates a rate of pay with the employer and schedules the work. Officers sign-up for jobs at specific times each month.

Officers are limited in the amount of employment they can schedule during a pay period (every 2 weeks) to avoid officers being fatigued at work, which is both a safety and efficiency concern for the department. This is monitored for compliance by squad leaders.

The major duty of the officers appeared to be to stop traffic on streets during filming. At the end of filming on West McLean Street on Nov. 18, there appeared to be nearly a half dozen officers. The officers were in police cars. The department also has to authorize use of the cars, Thompson said.

Nov. 20, during filming at Pleasant Grove Church on Lewinsville Road, there were up to four officers. They spent most of their time waiting for the second unit film crew to arrive. Once the location crew arrived, the officers stopped traffic along Lewinsville Road for 10 to 15 minutes while the crew filmed late 1970s cars passing by.

Other groups that hire off-duty police officers, according to Thompson: Tysons Corner Mall, McLean Bible Church - especially to direct traffic on Sundays, Fairfax County schools for athletic events and other after school activities.

Yes, they can arrest you even if they are off duty.