Ringgold police moving to 12-hour shifts this fall
Ringgold police officers will be going to longer shifts — and that’s a good thing, says Police Chief Dan Bilbrey.
Police department shifts were a big topic of conversation during the City Council’s Aug. 22 meeting, as Bilbrey proposed the change from standard eight-hour shifts to 12-hour schedules.
“For the 12-hour shifts, they will be implemented with no initial cost to the city and no major operational issues,” Bilbrey said. “This change would provide less fatigue for our officers and increase productivity. All of our officers are in favor of this proposed schedule.”
The council unanimously approved the change.
Bilbrey pointed out that the 12-hour shifts have become pretty standard with most law enforcement agencies, with the Ringgold and Tunnel Hill police departments being the only local agencies that still run eight-hour shifts.
He specified that the new schedule would create more of a routine for officers, help them plan vacations easier and make the department more efficient with fewer shift changes.
“It’s easier scheduling,” Bilbrey said. “The officers will work 36 hours one week and then 48 hours the next, for a total of 84 hours per two-week period. It will also save us a little wear and tear on our patrol cars. For officers with take-home cars, those vehicles will be on the road seven of every 12 days instead of 10 of every 12 days.”
Bilbrey added that the change could also benefit the department in the long term by helping to keep officers on staff.
“When we’ve done exit interviews with officers who’ve left us to go to other agencies, the number one complaint was the work schedule,” Bilbrey said. “Hopefully this will help us keep and recruit personnel.”
The 12-hour shifts are expected to begin around Oct. 1.