Schedule Woes

Does anyone else care for this work schedule or what? There doesn't seem to be any other agencies out there working anything as assinine as this one....3/2/2/3 12 hour days or nights flipping back and forth every 28 days will kill relationships, education opportunities, your health......

I hear you to a point. Every other weekend off?? Whats wrong with that?? Myself, I like the 12 hour shift, just not the flip-flop between days and nights. Sure makes it easy to get things done during the week. Sure wouldn't trade it for a 9 to 5.
Stay safe bud...

So many other agencies have more than one schedule in place to please those with special needs. Like our specialty units and School resource or K-9, civil, judicial that don't work the 3/2/2/3 here..Yet patrol here doesn't and wont consider those options because Of "Richie" or those oldtimers opposed to change.

Some other options would be 4/3 10hr days would gives you set days off which could be rotating schedule for days off so it doesn't get stagnent, 4/4 11.5 hrs (no flex) rotating schedule where every 4 to 6 weeks you get a 4 week rotation of weekends off(my pref.). 5/2 5/3 8.5 hr days, etc. Anything but this 3/2/2/3 unless it was built in with options and currently is not. The answer could be keeping it and implementing a powershift with one of these others mentioned those those who want to take classes or need day care assistance can flexability because administration doesn't seem to really care yet they claim to be family family orientented.

We all know that to get the "constant" shift we have to be here for a year before we are allowed to apply for a change. Kinda like being on the road and am willing to accept the shift. Got used to it after awhile and the family has adjusted quite well.
Over the last few years the K9 and traffic units lost the gravy train and now do the 12. It is better to actually have a traffic unit or K9 when you need them.
When I started the numbers were low 300's and they are knocking on 560 now. I agree if admin would be more family like we wouldn't be gettin the draft from the back door being left open so often. From your outlook you seem to be fairly new here. Dont mean any disrespect, we all know patrol is the torque that get the ball rolling. Hang in there and work toward what you want out of it. All in all this is a good agency compaired to others I've seen. From your posting time I got the drift on your shift, some ladders are harder to climb than others.
Stay safe, be cool, catch ya at the K someday.

Do me solid Eastside and pass this site and topic along to your people for future FYI......Who knows maybe others have some interesting input?

Damn! You guys flip flop from days to nights every 28 days on the 12 hour shifts?????????????? We work the 12 hour shifts but on a PERMANENT basis for one year then we submit shift bids based on seniority. We haven't done the flip from days to nights and back every 28 days for many, many years! That must really kick your asses. That's nuts!

Be safe! Don't fall asleep at the wheel on that insane schedule!

... and I didn't type "darn" below ... the computer changed it for me :(

We r the true meaning of backwoods here POLK and I mean backwoods. The schedule is a joke, equipment issuses are a joke ( like No tinted windows allowed ) , we still have 2000/2001 cvics in use w/ mega miles, no union in place, and it goes on.......

... and I didn't type "darn" below ... the computer changed it for me

That's too bad .... I was just issued a 2007 Impala with a CD player (the oldest car we have is an '03 crown vic ... we just outfitted 119 new marked cars which do not include the unmarked cars used by traffic, warrants, the tactical unit, etc), have a laser, and top of the line radar unit. Windows are tinted also (makes a huge difference in the heat)! Completely remote print all reports right from the car to the office and the only forms we have to use are ones that require a signature. It's all done from the computer in the car. Our sheriff is doing a fantastic job (I've had 4 raises in 2 years) and now make well over 50K a year as a slick sleeve patrol deputy (not including incentive, call out, overtime, and paid court time). Our sheriff is involved, has shown up on calls and backed up guys on traffic stops, and has even come out and worked traffic on I-4 with us!. The man has even had me call him at home if he had a question on something (and didn't want to talk to the Sgt about it). I can honestly say I have NO complaints which is pretty amazing in this job. They took into account what WE wanted when it came to scheduling (permanent shifts with a bid for new shifts once a year based on seniority). Switching from days to nights and back every 28 days is insane and DANGEROUS and only adds a great deal of stress to an already stressful job! I saw where one post on here mentions you're up to 560 ID numbers. We're up to 6500 ID numbers (mine is a 1000 number) and still being that large of an agency I do NOT feel like an insignificant name or number on a shift roster! I feel like a valued member of this organization. They even have catering at our training sessions (free food!) and we are served by the sheriff's staff (majors and above). Come on down, guys. We're always looking for some good people! They'll back you up here if what you do is right! By the way we have the tasers also and are being issued new Glocks as well switching from the S&W .45 cal.

... forgot to mention we have 24 hr a day use of the car anywhere in the county for any reason (except for times when alcohol may be consumed, of course). I go to the gym, visit family, grocery store .. whatever. All that is required is that we sign onto the computer as "In service for personal use". It may also be driven OUT of county for school, college, or training purposes. How many more hundreds of dollars a year does this alone put into our pockets?

Be safe, guys!