The number of provincial police officers declaring side jobs has jumped since the Highway 13 snowstorm debacle earlier this year.
Soon after hundreds of motorists were left stranded on the snow-choked highway, there was a report that a key SQ officer was away from his post as the crisis developed. The report said he was visiting a notary for a real estate transaction related to his side business.
The force tells La Presse that it circulated a reminder that side hustles must be declared to the brass, and afterward, the number of officers disclosing second jobs went from 147 last year to 200 now.
Many of the moonlighting officers teach in their off-hours, at CEGEPs or the police academy at Nicolet. Some own rental properties, others do fitness instruction.
The officer who was doing real estate work during the Highway 13 crisis was reassigned to administrative tasks until an investigation is completed.