When Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming was hired in January
2004, one of the first things he looked at was how the department
scheduled shifts and one of the first actions he took as chief was
to make sure three officers plus one sergeant were scheduled at all
times.
When Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming was hired in January 2004, one of the first things he looked at was how the department scheduled shifts and one of the first actions he took as chief was to make sure three officers plus one sergeant were scheduled at all times.
“Anything less than that is just not a good idea,” he said. “Of course, when we have a special event or are working on a special assignment, we have to bring in more officers.”
Officers work 12-hour shifts, Cumming said. He would prefer to have them on 10-hour shifts, but that would require more officers.
“That would be my preference, but it would consume more people,” he said. “Twelve hours is a long period of time, they need their rest. Statistics show that during the last two hours of a 12-hour shift, officers are pretty tired and not as effective. You really have to watch for the burnout factor.”
When the force is shorthanded, due to injuries, family leaves or court appearances, officers must work overtime to fill the gaps.
Cumming said the staffing of the shifts do not vary according to differing levels of criminal activity during the day or week.
“I think you simply need the three officers/one sergeant shifts, because you cannot predict when something major will happen,” he said. “If you have less, and you have a major problem, you have to focus those officers on the serious problem, and your coverage of the rest of the city goes away.”
The department can call on outside agencies, such as the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office or the Gilroy Police Department, for assistance in such a case, but “they may have their hands full as well,” Cumming said.
During a special event, such as the recent Mushroom Mardi Gras or the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations, the department will bring in extra officers. Also, if the department has a special focus, such as extra patrols in the beginning of the school year or watching for DUIs during the holidays or the recent focus on downtown crime, the shifts will be padded with extra officers working overtime.
