Police departments working on special projects that are funded by federal or state government agencies can have positive impacts on their communities. At the same time, the extra hours of overtime often required for these initiatives must be monitored and deployed fairly in order to maximize the benefits and control excess spending.
Funds allocated to agencies for officer overtime can help law enforcement with seasonal patrol issues, such as intoxicated or distracted drivers. Alternatively, time can kick in automatically if officers stay on duty beyond their original schedule - especially if overtime is tracked manually. With these hours adding up quickly, staff budgets can balloon unexpectedly - and cost departments dearly.
As with all initiatives involving overtime, careful monitoring and assignments are key. Public safety workforce management software can be used to ensure that officers aren't working excessive overtime hours from one pay period to the next.
Voluntary overtime signup can also be used to automate assignments based on agency rules that ensure fairness and cost efficiencies. Add to that the use of approval workflows and you've got audit trails that increase accountability.
This type of technology goes a long way in keeping officers well-rested and departments in compliance with their union regulations and budgets. It's a great use of funded initiatives that result in a positive impact on the communities being served.
That's all for today. Thanks for watching!
