Twelve-hour shifts to continue at SLT police department

Injuries and absences from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department have been more of a concern to officers than a recent schedule change, according to testimony this week.

South Lake Tahoe police officers are expected to continue working three 12-hour shifts per week for at least another year after the South Lake Tahoe City Council took a look at the results of the new schedule Tuesday.

Officers and detectives at the police department switched from working four 10-hour shifts per week to three 12-hour shifts per week in August in an attempt to more efficiently schedule hours at the department and decrease overtime expenses.

Officers still ended up logging 40 hours per week, with the remaining hours split between activities like training, putting on and removing emergency equipment and court time.

The schedule change resulted in a savings of about $15,750 in three months, according to Lt. Brian Williams.

“It is more ...

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