FYI: VC Star Reports on the 10hr v 12hr Controversy

[RadioBrett]

http://venturacountystar.com/news/2007/aug/19/officers-overtime-pay-comes-with-a-cost/

The Ventura County Star is reporting on the problems facing VCSD Deputies with the 12 hour shift. Does anyone think they will go back to 10 hour shifts??

[willpolice4food]

What kind of shifts do OCSD and LASD work?

[SgtCHP]

Based solely upon that article, I would imagine there will be another study conducted and a movement to reduce the work shifts back to TEN HOUR shifts. There is confident, proven material concerning the issues addressed in the article - sleep deprivation, stress levels up, cardio difficulties, etc. - all of which cost agencies big monies, personnel losses, extended overtime, unnecessary early medical retirements.

Law enforcement is unlike fire services when it comes to being on duty.

Studies have shown that within FDs, those who have been on duty for a twenty-four hour shift and are nearing the end of a duty day, when called out to a late incident are more prone to injury or negative problems - even though they have had a good night's rest.

[ElDiabloJoe]

What kind of shifts do OCSD and LASD work?Varies depending on assignment. Jails are usually a 3/12 op. Patrol is usually either a 3/12 or a 4/10 op. Admin and courts are usually a 9/80 or a 5/40.

HTH,

EDJ

[ejay]

I wonder how this will effect the rest of the county. I only know of two incidents in the past ten years of an officer falling asleep behind the wheel.

I am glad they are addressing the issue though. Throughout the country there are more and more officer fatalitites when they fall asleep behind the wheel on the way home.

At the same time I don't work in VC and love my 10 hour shifts. I am surprised that the media didn't spin the story toward the funding aspect of overtime.

[nobody33]

If people didn't live two counties away from where they worked, have three kids that don't let them sleep, own a bunch of toys that require an OT shift every week to make the payments on, etc etc it would alleviate a lot of the problems I have seen with fatigue.

People don't realize their limits and over do it. I think VCSO's mandatory OT may be more an an issue than the 12 hour shifts. Mandatory OT sucks.

[hbliam]

If people didn't live two counties away from where they worked, have three kids that don't let them sleep, own a bunch of toys that require an OT shift every week to make the payments on, etc etc it would alleviate a lot of the problems I have seen with fatigue.

People don't realize their limits and over do it. I think VCSO's mandatory OT may be more an an issue than the 12 hour shifts. Mandatory OT sucks.

What mandatory overtime? The article said they had 104 hours of guaranteed OT per year. All that means is they work 3/12's one week and 4/12's the next which nets them 84 hours in two weeks or 8 hours OT per month or 104 hours OT per year...

The article also said only 25/30% of the Deps volunteer to work additional OT.

[IMachU]

We have worked the 4/10 and 3/12 schedules for years. We have folks working 104 hours of OT PER PAY PERIOD, and there is still talk of drafting for OT (mandatory OT). It's the OT that is killing folks, not the schedules. the schedules allow us to work with more units per shift than a 5-8 shift. Also, that means one more RDO to work OT. And with our current attrition, there is even MORE OT than before.

Our folks work OT to make a decent wage level. We are 25-30% less than our comparable departments (like LA City Gen Services, Port PD, Airport PD, etc).

Couple the VERY low wages with housing costs, and if our folks wanna live in their own house and not rent, we GOTTA buy in the back 40. That's the only way we don't have a $3500 mortgage (which is a month's pay for base-salary officer). So, our folks are capitalizing on the OT. It's the only way to get ahead here (until something happens with the department, which should be soon...opinion and conjecture again).

[nobody33]

What mandatory overtime? The article said they had 104 hours of guaranteed OT per year. All that means is they work 3/12's one week and 4/12's the next which nets them 84 hours in two weeks or 8 hours OT per month or 104 hours OT per year...

The article also said only 25/30% of the Deps volunteer to work additional OT.

Sounds like guaranteed=mandatory OT. A normal work week is 40 hours. or 80 hours is normal for a two week pay period... not 84. Their 12 hour schedule forces them to work OT. There are 12 hour schedules that even out to 80 hours a pay period and do not require guaranteed/mandatory OT.

[hbliam]

Sounds like guaranteed=mandatory OT. A normal work week is 40 hours. or 80 hours is normal for a two week pay period... not 84. Their 12 hour schedule forces them to work OT. There are 12 hour schedules that even out to 80 hours a pay period and do not require guaranteed/mandatory OT.

I understand exactly what it is. My point is 2 hours of OT a week isn't something to worry about. Certainly isn't "more of an issue" then 12 hour shifts. I would certainly trade 2 hours a week to have 26 more days a year off.