Do police officers work rotating shifts?

Question

I want to become a police officer. This one job i was looking at said that you work rotating shifts. like working 7-3 one week then working 3-11 another week. The week after that you work 11-7. then the week after that you go back to 7-3. Does all police officers do that?

Answer 1

NO, it doesn't work that way.

The police are often organized by the shift and the shift works together. Transferring to another shift is usually only done as a means of punishment or when the officer requests it.

The officers who have the most seniority usually get positions on the day shift, when most people work. This way they can live a normal life. That means the officers with the least seniority usually get stuck with the late shift. Criminals are most active in the evening so the second shift is probably the busiest.

The main reason why police officers rarely change shifts is because it lets them get used to the action and the people on that shift. They become part of the neighborhoods and so are more trusted by the people on that shift, and are more likely to notice something wrong. This helps to make their job easier. When the police become part of the community then they are more likely to hear of something bad going and are more trusted by the residents.

One major goal of the recent Troop Surge in Iraq is to put the soldiers into the communities and make them a part of them. It has shown in the past that when this tactic is used the community trusts them more and the terrorists are less likely to move into the area. Before when they would clean out an area and move on there wouldn’t be anything stopping the terrorists from moving back in. The police found this out when they tried to handle gang violence.

Answer 2

That depends on the police department. Different departments have different schedules. For example, some shifts start at different times. A day shift might start at 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. or another time. Some officers work 8 hour shifts, some work 10, and some work 12. Some officers have steady shifts, and some rotate shifts. Some have steady days off, and some don't. Some are scheduled to work 5 days and then to be off 2 days, some are scheduled to work 4 days and then to be off 3 days, etc. Some officers in some departments are part-time, and might only work 1 shift a week or less.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

You're going to get all kinds of different answers. It all depends on where you're working. When I first started out, I changed shifts every 28 days. If the boss didn't like you, you could be stuck on one shift for a long time, and usually it wasn't the one you wanted. Once departments became organized, you were allowed to bid on your shift. Keeping in mind your seniority, and efficiency rating. I worked one specific shift for 10 years, but I earned it.

Answer 5

No. Some departments rotate shifts on a schedule. Some never rotate shifts.

Answer 6

Some do, but most have designated shifts that rotate every few months. However, it all depends on the actual department.

Answer 7

Yes, POs work rotating shifts, mostly 8 hour shifts. Morning , Day, Graveyard shift. Generaly you work fro 4 days then your off for 3 , but that depends.

Answer 8

Around here the police dept doesnt do that.But the sheriffs dept does do the exact shift you pointed out.It is all up to dept policy as to how it works.

Answer 9

For most officers up to the rank of Captain. The higher brass generally do what they want.

Answer 10

It is unique to the Department, mine we bid our shifts in 4 month increments according to seniority.