Police officer and work shifts?

Question

I was looking a wanted posted for a PD hiring in a few cities over. And it said "The following shifts are available". I always thought officers had no prefrence in their shift work and they had no say in it. If one wanted to only work 2nd shift, could he/she do so?

Answer 1

*** the police dawg thats how i treat em we buy our way outta jail but we cant buy freedom

Answer 2

In Columbus, OH, an officer would be assigned to work a shift for 30 days with another office ~ no choice, they went where they were assigned.  Then they had another 30 days with another office in another precinct for evaluation and I believe a third month with another office (I believe it's a 90 day probation).

If they pass all three evaluations, they are then assigned a shift/precinct where they are needed.  After they have been there for whatever time they are required when transferred to a new position, they can then put in for any jobs that open that they may want, as officers transfer to different areas.   In time, as they build up seniority, many of them found an area/shift that they preferred and they stayed there.

When I first went to work there as a civilian in 1975, they rotated every 90 days, regardless of seniority but I hadn't been there long when they did away with the rotation and let officers pick a shift and stay on it or move to another one if they could but all of that was contingent upon their seniority as to whether they got what they wanted.  I've been retired since 2000 so things may have changed a bit since then.

Not sure what other departments do, as I haven't talked with very many people from other departments.  Each place has their own way of handling the job so if you are interested in a certain place, keep applying until you can get your foot in the door.  Good luck

http://www.columbuspolice.org/

http://www.theblueline.com/feature/OHcol...

Answer 3

Many departments are switching to permanent shifts becuase it causes less wear on the officers than switching shifts every 30 days. You can ask for preference, but I would never be so bold when in the application process to ask for only one shift.