Should O’Fallon police shorten or lengthen shifts?
Interim Chief Bill Seibert
The department currently requires officers work 10-hour shifts, which Seibert says is rare for police departments in the St. Louis area. Most, he says, either have 8-hour or 12-hour shifts.
Shortening or lengthening shifts would improve accountability by having better communication between commanders and patrol officers, save tax money and eliminate some scheduling problems, Seibert says. Seibert said a recent study of the police department showed the city is wasting an estimated $475,000 a year by requiring shift overlays (having extra coverage between shifts).
So by changing shifts to either eight or 12 hours, Seibert says, the department might be able to save the $475,000 yearly, plus another $50,000 by cutting back on the number of patrol cars needed on the streets and potential overtime pay.
One of the disadvantages to having 8-hour shifts is fewer days off for officers, Seibert says, while 12-hour shifts would give officers more days off per year.
Lengthening shifts to 12 hours, however, can lead to fatigue and reduce scheduling flexibility for some police who might prefer more traditional work hours.
It’s a hot issue in the city right now, one that may rest on who gets elected mayor on April 7. Councilman Bill Hennessy, if elected, is likely to replace City Administrator Robert Lowery Jr.
Hennessy says he wants a national search for a new city administrator as well as a new permanent police chief, which means Seibert’s proposal could get scrapped. Councilman Pierce Conley, another candidate for mayor, says he’ll keep Lowery but wouldn’t rule out holding a national search for a new police chief. Jim Frain, the third candidate, says he’ll also keep Lowery and would consider keeping either Seibert or Maj. Kyle Kelley, who has applied for the top cop’s job as well. Frain also left open holding a national search for a new chief.
But it’s also important to remember that making such a change requires input from the O’Fallon City Council, which could also look dramatically different after April 7. Eleven candidates are vying for four open seats on the council.
Conley says he wants the council “to stay the hell out of the day-to-day operations of the police department.”
Frain hasn’t said much publicly on the issue, though one of his priorities is public safety.
See Thursday’s Post-Dispatch or STLtoday.com for a story about the O’Fallon mayor’s race.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Twelve hours should be pursued and all officers that complain should evaluate the state of the real world economy. Where else can a person with no formal education become a sgt./manager, have a salary of $80,000 with a full benifit package.
There has been a lot of whinning. In short the ones whinning should simply be thankful they have a job. It is a tough economy and they should also remember that their salaries are being fueled by over taxed citizens struggling to survive in this economy.
In short, it saves ample money so the association leader should pipe down in his attempts to inject his personal opinion on younger officers. Or a trade off can be made, the projected $475,000 in tax payer savings can be divided by the 100 officers as a pay cut.
Yes. Often government employees become dettached to “real world” economic situations. A savings of 500k is to huge of a savings to simply be thrown by the wayside. It is pleasing to see that chief siebert is examining issues of this nature. I would imagine that implementing change at a police department is a difficult task.
O’fallon needs to save every dollar they can. The amount of law suits handled and settled in the marrow administration has cost citizens greatly. The city should also consider having lowery act as a moscot for home rascal games for extra money. It is more in line with his job qualifications and with the size of his head, a moscot uniform would not be required.
Amen, we all could use savings in government. Another great saving the o’fallon police department could reap the benifits from is the elimination of items/equipment that is not usable year round. How often can motorcycles be used in the state of missouri? How much money does the use of motorcycles increase insurance premiums? When I first saw these being used I was furious. I do not want to pay additional taxes to support fallen officers when they are hurt. While I am sure they are fun to ride around on, they are not practical police tools. I would vote for placing the k-9 dogs on the motorcycles and watching them ride off in the sunset. They both are dangerous and they both have the same level of intelligence.
You need to take into consideration that these guys will also have to be available for court. Working a 12 hour shift, then staying for court, getting very little sleep, then try to go on the road again for 12 hours– that’s hard. They already have a very heavy workload when they are on the road. Also, to move up into higher ranking positions, college is required. Maybe some departments do not have this requirement, but some do. There are improvements that can be made to save money, I just don’t think that the 12 hour shifts is the answer to do this problem.
Mom,
Then they can go to 8 hour days with 2 days off a week.
As a mom you know…you can not have your cake and eat it to.
19 city…you must respect my authoritia!
I have heard not everyone will have to work the 12 hours shifts. It’s just another tool of intimidation Lowery will have to use against the police officers. Do you think it’s really safe to have someone who yields deadly force to be over-worked?
I understand Morrow conciders the officer in OFallon to be no better than a flight attendant. They dont deal with the things our ofallon officers do. I for one do not want an overworked, tired officer handling something for me. I work 12 at a hospital and know that I can not go more than that. Officers have to go to court and they never know when they will have that last report or call that will keep them working longer. I dont want them driving on the street when I am out there. Tired drivers cause accidents. Tired officers make mistakes. Realworld if you are a cop get a clue it wont work for a department as big as ofallon. Changing hours wont save the city money when officers are tired and making mistakes. BTW realworld detectives in Washington MO work 12 hour shifts….think about it no one is safe.
And I saw on the news tonight that O’Fallon is wasting a Police Officers time looking at foreclosed homes. Can we have a less important and lower paid code enforcement official doing that? Looks like this was another one of Morrow’s stupid ideas to get publicity. I think the only reason she didn’t run for re-election was so she could have this delusion that she was good for the city as opposed being rejected by the voters.
Why are we accepting this supposed savings as fact? Who conducted it? What is their motivation?
With this band of gypsies currently in control, be assured someone will make money on this deal.