O’Fallon to re-visit 12-hour police shifts after elections

Plans to increase O’Fallon police patrol officers to 12-hour shifts have been delayed pending a legal determination on whether it is the City Council’s decision or that of the city administrator.

Following a lengthy presentation by O’Fallon Interim Police Chief William Seibert, City Council members balked at arbitrarily accepting Seibert’s recommendation that patrol officers’ hours be increased from 10 hours to 12 hour per shift effective April 11. The proposed increase in hours would affect street patrol officers only, Seibert said. Others, he said, would be more effective staying at 10-hour or going to 8-hour shifts. Seibert said patrol officers are not usually on the road their entire shift.

Proponents of the increase in shift hours, including former-Mayor Donna Morrow and City Administrator Bob Lowery Jr., said the change would save taxpayer dollars, allow officers more time for training and give them the opportunity to work in a “platoon or squad” system that would place patrol officers with one primary supervisor. Seibert said the proposal had “some backing from line officers to command officers.”

Seibert said the 12-hour shift would mean three days at 12 hours and a short 8-hour shift—a day for training.

The change was spurred by an organizational study completed in 2006 which indicated the need for more effective use of manpower, Seibert said. In 2008, a strategic plan was developed, looking forward to the year 2012 that also indicated more efficient use of officers.

“One of the things we learned was that instruction came from top down, and we learned to never underestimate the intelligence of your workforce,” Seibert said. “In 1989 we had 25 officers, and now have 109 officers. We need to look at efficient and effective use of personnel resources, and how we can continue to give the high level of service to the city. This is not a push from City Hall, but being responsible stewards the citizens have tasked us with.”

Seibert said others departments have reported “..make the jump from 10 to 12 hour days, and you’ll never go back. The majority will love it.” He said there were no fatigue issues reported by officers, and currently, Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis are among those departments whose officers work 12-hour shifts.

Councilman Dan Haney (Ward 3) said departments using 12-hour shift systems cited by Seibert were much smaller than the O’Fallon Police Department. He said he didn’t understand how they could be compared to O’Fallon.

“As I understand, there was a communication (from the O’Fallon Police Department) that said 89 percent of the officers did not want to go to 12-hour shifts,” Haney said. “That shows me that this is being forced upon them from the top.”

Haney said those police agencies that were successful in scheduling officers for 12-hour shifts were either smaller agencies or those who had a hard time covering their cities to their full potential.

“My biggest concern is public safety—putting an officer with a gun behind the wheel for 36 hours within three days,” Haney said. “What would happen on the 35th hour if a teen pulls a toy gun on someone and a police officer reacts? I can’t imagine working 36 hours in three days and not being fatigued. The thing I’ve heard is those who work 12-hour shifts spend their off time sleeping. I’m extremely concerned with public safety, not to mention the officers that have spoken with who said they did not want this schedule.”

Morrow said that while she was in office changes had been made in the Police Department that had reduced police responsibilities, such as issuing computers to officers so they could do their reports in their squad cars and still have a presence on the street.

“We have given tools and more effective technology that the 10-hour day needs to be looked at with these new abilities that the officers have,” Morrow said. “Shortly we will get a new radio system curing another problem. So, by looking at the hours the police officers work, I agree that they will save costs. The idea also is that the squads or platoons have the ability for more hands-on training. This would give leaders a chance to work individually with patrol officers.”

Morrow said the subject was brought forth during budget time, and whether the officers said they were in favor of it or not in the beginning, they have been given more information and have been given opportunity to know what the 12-hour day would entail.

“Everybody is afraid to accept change, but sometimes you have to work through the change,” Morrow said. “After the initial budget discussion, the commanders did listen to the officers and there was a difference in the breakdown of consensus. If a survey was done now, perhaps that 89 percent would want it. I applaud you (officers) for working through this to make sure everyone from the ground floor knows what pros and cons were rather than going with a mindset from months ago.

Councilman Jeff Yelich said under Federal Department of Transportation law truck drivers are limited to 10 hours on the road.

“We’re asking these officers to be on the road 12 hours a day,” Yelich said. “I have serious concerns about of officers being on the road that long.”

Councilman Pierce Conley (Ward 2) said he felt the Council should leave the business of policing up to the Police Department.

“My concern is that it’s been a long time coming. Majors have been working on it since late 2007, and I don’t think we’re qualified to instruct the police department on how to run the police department,” Conley said.

Personnel Director John Griesenauer said the city’s Employee Handbook currently states that police officers work 10-hour days, and the City Council agreed to postpone a decision until they determined who was legally entitled to make the decision.

The council is expected to review the proposal at the next Council Meeting on April 9, two days after the municipal elections.