Police Schedules

[PineStreet]

A captain at our department just asked an intern to call all the local agencies and ask them what schedule they use and why.

We currently work a 4-10 schedule that has three shifts. (Graves, Days, and P.M.s) The 4-10 shift has an overlap of 1 hour in the morning, 2 hours in the afternoon and 3 hours at night (5 hours x 3 or 4 bodies.)

If you could chose to work any schedule what would it be?

The captain is proposing one of the following:

1) 3-12 schedule with a 8hour pay back every other week = 80 every 2 weeks (Schedule of days picked by seniority) - OVERTIME KILLER

2) 4-10 Weekdays (Tues-Friday) and 3-12 Weekends (Sat-Mon)

3) Pitman Schedule

[FLIGHT762]

I liked the 4-10. Unfortunately, my Department didn't have enough personnel to do it properly (no overlap shifts). They went to the 12 hr. shifts. 3 on 3 off and 4 on 4 off the next week. No overlap shifts. I didn't like it. Too much time on the street. Get a DV the last hour with an in custody, you were working about 4 hours over. Those 4 on weeks made for a long week.

[Jonathan Doe]

When I worked the patrol, I worked 5 days/ 8 hrs per shift. Now, I work 4/10. many patrol sstations work 3/12, I believe.

[fullrearview]

4/10 with a two hour overlap...

I wish we did 3on/4off 4on/3off 12 hour shifts.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Anything to give one a 4 day day-off period is the best......

[hitman13]

We run 12s- 3 on, 3 off, 4 on, 4 off.

Your 4 on = 3 12s / 1 8 (or a lot of guys will stay on and collect 4 hrs of comp time)

Not sure why you think it's an OT killer, I get plenty

Plus on your 3 off or 4 off you can pick up an extra shift or two and still have 2 days off if you are so inclined.....




Only people who don't like it are the old guys......

[cacop]

Out of those three choices I would have to take #1. I have never understood the appeal of the Pittman. The 4/10-3/12 schedule is okay but it would suck to work 12s over the weekend when young and single.

We work 4/10s Sun-Wed and Wed-Sat most of the year. About once or twice a month we do training on Wed. Sometimes it is the whole department. Other times it is SWAT, HNT, or other units

We overlap 0730-0830, 1630-1730, and 2230-0230. There are 30-40 minute roll calls included in those overlaps. We have experimented with people coming in at 1200 and 1400 to cover the day/swing overlap and late swing cars coming in at 1800 or 1900 to have an extra body out when still busy. With staffing being short it doesn't happen often.

During the summer when it gets busier on the weekend we have the three shifts overlap on Fri, Sat, and Sun and one team comes in for extra patrol. For example Swings overlaps on Saturdays so one team will come in at a slighly modified time. The teams that modify are doing it on their Fridays.

[BigDogatPlay]

Grew up with five 8's. I liked 10's, but also was in a small agency so we didn't have staff to do it to maximum effect / benefit.

12's can be an OT draw down, but everyone I know who does them prefers them. And the OT eventually catches up with sick time, people out on leave and vacation, etc. OTOH I'd also argue that if one really needs OT to regularly augment their income there are other issues in their lives that might need to be addressed.

[SVT-40]

I've worked them all. By far the 3-12 was the best. We had a 3-12 with a 12 hour pay back every fourth week.

I worked Mon, Tue and Wed days (0510 to 1730 hrs) for years. Great shift. Nights were from 1710 till 0530. The shifts overlapped 20 minutes for briefing.

I did not care about any overtime reduction, and I did not hear many grumbles from the younger guys related to a lack of OT.

We had our shift plan in our MOU so it could not be changed on a whim.

[Falconis]

Never had to work a 5-8. Worked 12's and 10's. 12's suck. 10's are probably the best all around. 8's are easiest for working overtime for departments that have plenty of it.

Mine now works a hybrid 10 and 12 plan. Some shifts are on 10's and some are on 12's. Truth be told, we just don't have the bodies to cover every beat these days and not enough money to fill the empty ones with OT. Tell whoever is working on your schedule to put in an overlap. Especially with the swing and overnight shifts and try to get the overnight shift guys out no later than 7 AM. Watching the sun come up pretty much sucks. Driving home with the sun in your face doesnt make it easy either.

[chiselchst]

Pardon me for jumping in to a LE discussion. Not in LE here, but have worked rotating shifts for over 32 years.

We went to a 28 day 12-hour schedule about 13 years ago, and most the guys like it. It's semi common in chem/refineries. We work 42 hours a week.

M T W T F S S
D D D D - - -
- - - - N N N
N - - - D D D
- N N N - - -

Pros:
* 7 days off in a row (every 28)
* Work 14 out of 28 days
* Every other WE off
* Equal to everyone

Cons:
* Requires 4 crews
* Might be difficult to add layered coverage?
* Equal to everyone

When we went from 8's to 12's, the OT didn't go down, it went up. No more 16 hour shifts too. Most people work some OT on their 7 days off...

If work is "intense" 12's are difficult. Our shifts are 5-5 pm/am plus turnover time.

[jgorman]

I work 4/10 weds-sat. O700-1700. Love it.

[Spanky8601]

I have worked 8s, 10s and 12s. I really enjoy my current shift..............RETIREMENT

[cacop]

I've worked them all. By far the 3-12 was the best. We had a 3-12 with a 12 hour pay back every fourth week.

I worked Mon, Tue and Wed days (0510 to 1730 hrs) for years. Great shift. Nights were from 1710 till 0530. The shifts overlapped 20 minutes for briefing.

I did not care about any overtime reduction, and I did not hear many grumbles from the younger guys related to a lack of OT.

We had our shift plan in our MOU so it could not be changed on a whim.

It is very important to put in your MOU that your shifts will be X. Our last chief tried to make light duty people work 5/8 with an hour unpaid lunch.

It paid off when the city shorted us 10% in bodies and the city counsel tried to get the cheif to declare an emergency and make us go to 8s. He referred to the MOU and pointed out their failure to staff did not constitue an emergency.

[Spyder]

I work 40 hours a week. T/W are my ADO's, but it depends on what's going on that particular week to how many days, what days, what hours or what time I go to work.

I love it.