More and more federal police officers are forced to take on side jobs
According to "Russkaya Germaniya", 2,645 officials of the Federal Police took up this second profession last year. Such data was provided in response to a journalist's inquiry by the presidium of this federal structure headquartered in Potsdam.
In fact, this situation is not that rare: police officers in the Federal Republic are not prohibited from moonlighting. Thus, according to current legislative provisions, they can work outside of official hours up to seven hours per week and earn up to 40% of their annual salary from their main job. However, according to the Federal Law on Civil Servants, any secondary work activity (paid or unpaid) must be approved by superiors. Moreover, such a second job must be prohibited if it "conflicts with official duties or exceeds approved limits on time or pay".
From the response of the Federal Police leadership to the journalists' query, the motives of those officers who work on the side are not clear. However, it is no secret that the starting salary of police officers after completing three years of training is not very high: it ranges from 1,600 to 1,800 euros. The salary of an ordinary Federal Police officer in the first years of service does not exceed 2,300 euros. Only the highest-ranking police officers, receiving a salary under category B, can expect a salary of up to 8,500 euros.
It is therefore understandable why last year as many as 150 Federal Police officers decided to moonlight as musicians and formed their own rock groups and jazz bands.
Incidentally, according to British journalists, at least 2,300 "bobbies" currently moonlight in their free time from their main work. Among the additional professions chosen by the law enforcement officers of Great Britain are truck drivers, car salesmen, driving instructors, electricians, and even carpenters. There are also quite unusual side jobs like piano tuners, bagpipers, or candle sellers.