Key facts
- Argentinian police officers are taking on second jobs due to low salaries under President Javier Milei's austerity measures.
- Many officers carry their service weapons while working these secondary jobs.
- 75% of police-involved firearm deaths in 2025 occurred while officers were off duty.
- About 13% of these off-duty incidents involved officers working as rideshare drivers.
- Human rights groups advocate for limiting off-duty firearm carry to reduce violence.
In Argentina, a growing number of police officers are taking on second jobs, such as driving for rideshare companies, to supplement their low incomes amid President Javier Milei's austerity measures. This trend has raised concerns as officers often carry their service weapons while working these jobs, leading to an increase in incidents where off-duty officers use their firearms. Data from the Centre for Legal and Social Studies (Cels) indicates that 75% of deaths caused by police officers using their firearms in 2025 occurred while the officers were off duty, with approximately 13% of these involving officers working as rideshare drivers. This marks a significant rise from previous years.
Incidents cited include a federal police officer shooting two men attempting to rob him while he was driving for a rideshare service, and another officer killing a teenager during a similar attempted robbery. In one case, an officer working as a rideshare driver was killed by a passenger during an attempted robbery. While rideshare companies prohibit firearms, the practice of carrying them is common among security forces. Victoria Darraidou of Cels stated that police officers kill and die more when off duty due to unplanned, disproportionate, and unsupported use of their guns.
Many officers report that their take-home pay, even with extra shifts, falls below the poverty line. This financial strain has led to increased resignations from the security forces. Despite the administration's public support for law enforcement, police complaints over pay and conditions have escalated. Past cases, such as that of officer Luis Oscar Chocobar, and subsequent policy shifts broadening the circumstances under which police can use force, are seen by organizations like Cels as contributing factors to a rise in police-related deaths. Human rights advocates, including María del Carmen Verdú of Correpi, suggest that limiting when officers can carry their guns off-duty could significantly reduce violent incidents.