Burbank police will make permanent a trial program that moved them from working eight-hour tours to now working 12-hour shifts.
The city approved the work schedule at its Oct. 23 city council meeting.
The city confirmed the 12-hour work schedule memorandum of understanding with the Illinois Council of Police. This means that Burbank police officers, who had been operating on a 12-hour work day schedule on a trial basis, will now officially continue this schedule.
City officials appeared skeptical when the trial first began months ago, but the support of the officers and Burbank Police Chief Jack Garcia assuaged general concerns.
Garcia said that the data supported the permanent change.
“The officers like it,” he said, referring to the change from the 8-8-8-hour schedule to the 12-hour one. “My concern was productivity, but productivity has not gone down–it has increased. The officers asked for it, and we entered a trial of it, and, so far, it’s worked well for us.”
Burbank police officers had typically worked an 8 hours on, 8 hours off, 8 hours on work day, but the move to 12 hours gives officers more time off the clock.
That means more sleep, more personal time, etc., likely decreasing stress and allowing officers more rest which may account for the increase in productivity as measured by the number of arrests and tickets issued.
The city has also hired 17 new officers, according to Burbank Mayor Dan Foy.