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In Florida, North Miami P.D. officers are testing out a shorter work-week with longer days to see if there is a cost or other benefit to the department. The state of Utah has already gone to a four-day work-week for public employees and other states and municipalities are considering doing the same thing. The change in North Miami started several months ago and about 70 patrol officers who patrol the roadways were the first to start working the new schedule.
Police Chief Clint Shannon said the policy of four-day weeks with ten-hour days is a way to recruit and maintain officers and better cover the city. It has the added advantage of saving fuel and electricity.
Many police departments already have officers working four-day-a-week schedules according to Chief Shannon.
The switch to a ten-hour, four-day work-week is just fine by the union, which has been asking for years for a switch to the new schedule.
“We can finally say we provide officers with the same benefits as other agencies,” the union’s president Sgt. Peter Cruz told local reporters. Shifts are now from 8 AM to 6 PM; 3 PM to 1 AM; and 11 PM to 9 AM.
Police officer Ernesto Reyes said so far the schedule change has been working out great for him. “Officers are coming back from their three days off rested and ready to go,’’ he said.
“I love it. It’s great to have an extra day off. It’s time that I can do extra errands or see my family.’” City Manager Clarance Patterson said the city is also considering a four-day work schedule for non-sworn employees.
He said the change is meant to help the employees and the environment and would likely not affect the bottom line for the city. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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