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HPD patrol officers Working 12-hour days is giving police Sgt. David Passmore more free time.
to start three-day
workweeks
The five-day weeks are
slated to end by Oct. 1By Jaymes K. Song
Star-BulletinPassmore is assigned to East Honolulu District 7, where patrol officers work 12-hour shifts three days a week and get four days off.
"I love it," said the 14-year veteran. "I have more time with the family, which is the most important thing."
The Honolulu Police Department is moving toward replacing the five-day, 40-hour work week with the "3-12" schedule by Oct. 1.
The change does not apply to nonpatrol personnel.
Police management and union representatives met yesterday to work out details for the schedule change.
Alexander Garcia, Oahu chairman of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, expects no problems gaining approval for the change.
The department implemented 3-12 as a pilot project three years ago in District 5 (Kalihi) and District 7.
"I've been talking to the guys in District 5 and 7 and they think it's great," Garcia said.
Under the new schedule, officers will work three days a week for two consecutive weeks and four days the third week, giving them 120 hours for a three-week period. That averages out to 40 hours a week.
"It's a good thing for the officers," said Maj. Glen Kajiyama of the Human Resources Division.
Reduction in overtime costs and improved morale among patrol officers were notable benefits for management.
But overtime is available to officers working 3-12 for such things as a court appearance on their day off. The new schedule also provides more time for special-duty work.
Maj. Butch Robinson, District 7 commander, says there has been a drop in sick leave and fewer complaints from the public regarding officers' conduct during the 3-12 project period. "Everybody's happy. It's a win-win situation for all of us," said Robinson, a 38-year patrol veteran.
The 3-12 schedule eliminates the rotations of day, night and graveyard shifts every six weeks, which officers say put a tremendous strain on their lives. "It's hell on your health," said Lt. David Eber of the Waikiki District.
When an officer is assigned to working the midnight shift, it is very difficult to spend any quality time with family, he added.
Passmore said his body feels more relaxed with the couple of extra days of rest. He enjoys the added free time with his three children and they get to go on more mini-vacations to the neighbor islands.
"I'd be heartbroken if we went back to a (five-day, eight-hour work) schedule," he said.
The 3-12 will result in more consistent police service, since officers will be assigned permanently to either days or nights, said Eber.
"There's certain problems at night and certain problems in the day, and different watch commanders have different priorities," Eber said.
Under the 3-12 setup, the eight patrol districts will determine their own starting times.
District 7, which stretches from Punahou Street to Hawaii Kai, is mostly residential, so officers start their 12-hour shifts at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
In the more urban and commercial District 5, shifts start at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Fatigue from working 12-hour shifts was not a problem, said Robinson.