“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest”

“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest” is a popular police saying that may have originated with the New York Police Department. An officer in service is a “guest,” but one who has retired is a “pest.”
 
William J. Caunitz wrote in One Police Plaza (1984):
 
“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest. Remember that.”
 
   
Google Books
One Police Plaza
By William J Caunitz
New York, NY: Bantam
1984
Pg. 272:
“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest. Remember that.”
 
Malone scoffed. “I’ve heard that one from a lot of old-timers who were getting out.”
 
Google Books
Three Complete Novels:
Black Sand; Suspects; One Police Plaza
By William J. Caunitz
New York, NY: Wings Books
1994
Pg. 813:
“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest. Remember that.”
 
Malone scoffed. “I’ve heard that one from a lot of old-timers who were getting out.”
 
Google Groups: nyc.announce
postings from the NYPD restricted www site
A496612321
11/1/98
(...)
Hey Proud, thanks for the information. Its seems each contract the retirees lose a little more of our benefits. This is caused by the lack of representation by the line organizations. Regarding retiremnet…..I remember an oldtimer saying “When you’re in the Job you’re a Guest. When you’re out of the Job, you’re a Pest.” stay safe, Its a jungle out there
 
Google Books
Where the Dead Lay
By David Levien
New York, NY: Doubleday
2009
Pg. 8:
Like the cop saying went: “When you’re in you’re a guest, when you’re out you’re a pest.”
 
TV.com
The Unit: Change of Station
Original International Air Dates: Slovakia: August 12, 2009 on JOJ
Mack: When you’re in you’re a guest, when you’re out you’re a pest.
   
GoLocalProv (Providence, RI)
Giannini: Things My Mother Taught Me…Happy Mothers Day
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
Joanne Giannini, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
(...)
There’s an old saying in politics, when you’re in you’re a guest, when you’re out you’re a pest. I’ve found that to be very true but that won’t stop me for advocating for change.