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2012-07-17 at 15:48

Police board, association talking about 12-hour shifts

By tbnewswatch.com
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Uniformed city police officers undergo another major change in their shift schedule soon. 

Contract negotiations are underway between the Police Association and the Thunder Bay Police Service Police Board, which could eventually see officers working 12-hour shifts.

Back in 2008, the police force and the union negotiated a move from eight-hour to 10-hour shifts. That change was aimed at ensuring more officers were working the streets at any one time. 

Police association president Greg Stephenson confirms that 12-hours shifts are now being considered. 

He said there are a lot of potential benefits, both to the police force and to city residents. 

Police board chair Joe Virdiramo declined to comment about the proposal until the new contract has been considered and approved by the entire board.

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Comments

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The Badger Mountain Hermit says:
No study? No consultants?
7/17/2012 7:18:23 PM
chbaker says:
Sounds like a cash grab for overtime to me.

There's no shortage of police on Thunder Bays streets... It's just a matter of getting the ones who are already there being more effective.
7/17/2012 7:24:16 PM
Vanity says:
If 12 hr shifts combine with 4 days on and 4 days off it will leave less police on the streets. As it is you hardly ever see a police car during the day - people continually speed and talk on cellphones. Where is the enforcement?
7/17/2012 10:12:06 PM
unionbay880 says:
I know! Police should be everywhere at all times and anytime you see something you perceive is wrong they should appear and lay the charge you think is right (unless of course it's you breaking the law).
7/18/2012 12:21:19 PM
Sui Generis says:
Honestly, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with someone patrolling the streets, with a loaded weapon, at the end of a week or running 12 hour shifts. We want our officers alert, awake and aware, not dragging their butts at the end of a long shift.
7/17/2012 10:48:21 PM
Stephen says:
No.It's a terrible idea. If something happens that requires the assistance of a policeman, it needs to be someone who is awake. and alert. I didn't know that they were already working ten hour shifts.
7/17/2012 10:59:49 PM
ruralmedic says:
(a reply to Sui's comment as well)

Most EMS shifts are 12 hours long and we can have just as much impact on someone as police can.

I don't disagree that 12 hours is long (I actually very much agree that it is), but in terms of time on/time off and what we deal with on a regular basis, 12 hour shifts aren't all that bad.
7/18/2012 8:18:58 AM
brooky says:
Good news for the doughnut shops!!
7/17/2012 11:15:57 PM
North18 says:
Firemen get to sleep in beds at their stations when they work 14hr shifts. Why not let the cops do the same? And I love how everyone assumes that they already know the ins and outs of the contract. How do we know this is going to leave less cops on the streets? Maybe it will put more on. And how do we know that they will work 4 on and 4 off? Maybe its a different schedual? Why do people always have to speculate before they even know the real story? I guess it makes some people's boring lives that much more exciting!
7/18/2012 12:05:58 AM
Steven says:
Sorry..... are you people really commenting that you are worried that someone might be tired after a 12 hour shift? LOL HILARIOUS!

Go ask your specialist doctor next time you need their service in the evening how long they have been working straight, without so much as a snack break (let alone the endless cop donut breaks and contract mandated downtime).

It is possible that your overworked doctor has been working over 32 hours straight without sleep when they see you.

Lol Awwww! The poor cops! A whole 12 hours, minus all the breaks.

PLEEEASE!
7/18/2012 12:37:26 AM
JIMMY2 says:
i would like the people who make these shift changes to work, even two sets of shifts, it is tooo much, especially with a job like this, and even bombardier, the hours, for most are too challenging, yet put on manual labour, and do that for ten hours, nevermind 12? are you insane, there is going to be way more injuries, sick leave, etc. think about it, before you sit in your office and decide.
7/18/2012 8:18:36 AM
yqtyqt says:
I thought that one of the original ideas of having unions in place was to protect the employees from having to work long hours since it became dangerous for them. With the crime stats the way they are, do you really want a cop who is exhausted dealing with a life and death situation.

In the case of police officers, they already have stated that their jobs are dangerous (and I believe them), that they are over-worked (I sort of believe them) and that they are underpaid ( I don't think so).

But if they are allowed to work 12 hour shifts, how does that address the danger aspect of the job.

You will never convince me that any employee is as sharp on the job after 11 hours, as he was earlier in his shift. Productivity falls off with the longer you work. To the point where it is more dangerous for everyone concerned.
7/18/2012 8:30:00 AM
snoop1 says:
12 hour shifts are really the way to go. Nurses, Paramedics, RT's, Mill workers.... etc are all utilizing them. It allows the individual the opportunity to have more consecutive days off and a better structured schedule. Rumour has it Thunder Bay Fire Association is again looking at 24 hour shifts. Now that is a terrible idea!
7/18/2012 8:55:46 AM
really??? says:
To all of you that THINK you know what you are talking about - you need to get "edumacated" before you speak. The 10 hour shifts are ridiculous. Would you like working from 4pm - 2am? or how about 6pm - 4am? The 12 hour shifts make sense for both the officer (quality of life), and the shift scheduler (less book-offs). Are they more tired working 12 hours as opposed to 10? Maybe - probably not though. How do you know that there will be less officers on shift? The 7 North and 7 South is the NORM.....1 in Oli-Poo, 1 Shuniah. Not sure why Brooky would think it is good news for the donut shops - jokes. I go to Tim's every morning on my way to work - do you? What about our ER doctors that work copious amounts of overtime and are overworked? Are you going to say "no - don't treat me - I want an awake and alert doctor that has not worked more than 8 hours"? - it's our new way of life - get used to it.
7/18/2012 11:44:13 AM
North18 says:
This comment is for really???, the Thunder Bay POlice Service does not police in Shuniah.
7/18/2012 8:36:57 PM
chimmychonga says:
in a few months, the popo will be complaining about how tired they are after 8 hours etc etc & how they need longer breaks or deserve a higher wage, its all gonna happen
7/19/2012 8:20:09 AM
chbaker says:
You're not allowed to drive a truck after 10 hours...

But you can operate a police cruiser (race car) and automatic weapons and make decisions that will affect people's lives forever....

And what if he has to stay longer to finish something? Now he'll be there 15 hours.

I think this will wind up costing taxpayers alot more in overtime.

If they goto 12 hours, maybe they should also get a pay cut.

For the record, Firefighters work WAY harder for less money.
7/19/2012 9:51:48 AM
Sui Generis says:
" Are they more tired working 12 hours as opposed to 10? Maybe - probably not though."

Thanks. That one line ruined your credibility enough to discount your entire post.
7/19/2012 11:10:24 AM
The Badger Mountain Hermit says:
Why are most cop-related articles here not allowing any public, free-speech comments? Can't handle it emotionally? Pretending you're all perfect? Why are cops calling the shots, w.r.t. suicide reporting? Hiding and distorting the facts from the Public has become standard operating proceedure. Still no 24-Hour Occurrence Reports available here, unlike down South. Why?
7/19/2012 12:59:43 PM
canrebel53 says:
Rules related to hours of service in Canada:
No motor carrier shall request, require or allow a driver to drive and no driver shall drive after the driver has accumulated 13 hours of driving time in a day.
No motor carrier shall request, require or allow a driver to drive and no driver shall drive after the driver has accumulated 14 hours of on-duty time in a day.
No motor carrier shall request, require or allow a driver to drive and no driver shall drive after the driver has accumulated 13 hours of driving time unless the driver takes at least 8 consecutive hours of off-duty time before driving again.
chbaker
No motor carrier shall request, require or allow a driver to drive and no driver shall drive after the driver has accumulated 14 hours of on-duty time unless the driver takes at least 8 consecutive hours of off-duty time before driving again.
7/24/2012 10:25:51 AM
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