OK-I have an issue and I just want to know if I am crazy or not. There is a newer agent in my town who recently joined his girlfriend as a team, no problem with this however he is also a police officer. Rumor is he has been prospecting in uniform, taking down FSBO numbers and addresses, aproacing people in and mentioning he is an agent, even mentioning it when he pulls people over for speeding! Of course none of this can be 100% proved but there is enough of thise sightings/stories to make me think it is happening. I guess I am wondering if he can even do both? Seems like a possible conflict of intrest if he has to arrest a seller or buyer! Any thoughts?

Im sure he would not arrest the buyer or seller until after closing!

Really though, if he is on patrol and is collecting phone numbers, well that OK. He is patroling. I could not see a police officer in uniform though door knocking on FSBO doors to try and get a listing? Most people get rather concerned when the police coma knocking on the door, espicially with a listing presentation.

As far as traffic violations. I cant see him issuing a ticket and picking up a client either. If a cop stopped me and offered to not write me a ticket if I agreed to buy or sell from him/her, I'd agree to do it so not to get a ticket, even though Im an agent. I just don't see an officer picking up alot of clients that way.

Now his SOI could be huge. He can mention the fact that he is licensed to his co-workers and pick up their business. Mention it to the felons in the back of his car on the way to the station as I'm sure they will need their house sold. I don't see his position being a conflict anymore than if he was an EMT and called to an accident and noticed the seller was a FSBO that would not list with him.

Depending on the area, and who the employer is, township, city, state, etc, that Boy in Blue could get into serious trouble by using city/state time to work RE.

I would say the cop's girlfriend has a huge market share and getting alot of business. She needs to bring in an assistant and/or form a team but refuses to, because she wants to keep all the money at home, so she had the boyfriend get his license.

If I'm wrong, then I still do not see how a cop in uniform would be an advantage to list or buy. What if a cop pulled you over for speeding, issued you a ticket, and the slipped you a RE card. Would you use that person? It does not make sense.

I know a firefighter who is now a home inspector. Is there a conflict there? The fact that he does arson investigations, is that a conflict?

If you think there is an issue, then reort it to the his Chief or Mayor. But to say there are "Rumors" about his activity sounds more like an agent who lost a losting or two.

Wrong!! She does not have a huge market share, she is new as well. Was in it for about 4 months before he joined her. I just have a problem with the whole prospecting in uniform, I as a tax payer pay his salery! And as far as I know no one has lost a listing to them, they are very unexpirenced and keep making mistakes. This question has been asked of people who are not in Real Estate and they agree that there is an issue. Just wanted to get another view.

I'm sure there are office policies in place that prohibit performing another job during duty hours (prospecting is a job). Once the employer gets wind of it, it normally stops.

wag89,
All I can say is worry about your own business and less about a rumor.
Rumor, no facts to back up your suspicion. I bet the way you asked the question accounts for the appearance that something is wrong.

There is no possible advantage for this officer to prospect in uniform or while on patrol. I can see it now." License and registration please!" The officer looks at them and hands them back along with his Realtor business card. " I am going to let you off with just a warning this time and should you be in the market to buy of sell a property or know someone else that wants to do so please remember to call me or give them my card."
Or answering a domestic violence call, " We are taking your husband to jail and should you decide to divorce him and sell your house please keep me in mind as I would be happy to represent you as your real estate agent."

LMAO!

Paul,
The visual is just too funnnnnnnnnny!

Wag89,
Quit listening to rumors. If you want to know for sure, go to the source - Tell the cop that you heard the rumor and get it verified.

Geez guys was just looking for an opinion not sarcasim this is not consuming my day or preventing me from doing my business,which is great by the way. my concern is for the REALTORS, we already have to deal with how horrible we are and we do not care about any one but ourselves then you have this added to the mixture. He did almost loose his cop job because he had approaced sellers and engaged in conversation about RE in uniform, found this out today. SO I guess it is not a rumor!!!

Did you hear this from the police chief or a supervisory office on the department? If not it is still just a rumor.

They would definately not fire him for that, he may get a rip or a few days off without pay but definately not fired unless it was an ongoing pattern and from what you said he is very new to real estate so I doubt there is enough time to establish enough of a pattern to get fired. In case you are not aware it is very difficult to fire a cop as they are protected by those pesky civil servant rules.

Unless he told the FSBO "You'll be shocked if you continue to try and sell on your own", and when the FSBO refused to list he whipped out the taser and really shocked the FSBO into listing.

Even then he would likely be put on paid administrated leave pending the outcome of the investigation blah blah blah.

After registering, re-registering (didn't activate soon enough) and then reading and lurking and reading some more, my first post is to this. Thanks Paul for helping me start my day off with a GOOD laugh!

MTW in Memphis - yes, Elvis was my neighbor

I have some public servant friends, and they have to get permission from their employer before they can work another job. This cop may already have approval from his employer, but I am sure they trust that he won't be using employer time to prospect.

The Building Dept Head is an agent in my town. I wonder if he tells builders....so you wanna build again in town...consider listing with me. If it wasn't true, I'd laugh too.

Honestly, not that uncommon to find new agents with 1 or 2 other jobs these days.