Police department tries to balance layoffs and overtime
A New Jersey township is trying to contain rising overtime employee attendance costs after layoffs decreased the size of its police department by nearly one-third, according to the Cinnaminson Patch.
In 2008, Cinnaminson Township's 32-person police department managed to reduce overtime to less than $185,000. However, layoffs in 2009 forced the remaining officers to put in more time and attendance. This year, overtime for the department's 23 officers is approaching $200,000, according to public records obtained by the news source.
Some officers take home thousands of dollars of overtime annually, while others accrue much less. Gerry Seneski, the township's business administrator, explained that this is because officers can volunteer for as much or as little overtime as they want.
To reduce the need for time-and-a-half payouts, the department's new public safety director, Michael King, introduced a scheduling system earlier this year to put more officers on the street at historically hectic times.
"We did an analysis on what days and times are busiest," King told the news source.
Keeping overtime down is becoming a nationwide problem as municipalities across the country struggle to police Occupy protests.
In 2008, Cinnaminson Township's 32-person police department managed to reduce overtime to less than $185,000. However, layoffs in 2009 forced the remaining officers to put in more time and attendance. This year, overtime for the department's 23 officers is approaching $200,000, according to public records obtained by the news source.
Some officers take home thousands of dollars of overtime annually, while others accrue much less. Gerry Seneski, the township's business administrator, explained that this is because officers can volunteer for as much or as little overtime as they want.
To reduce the need for time-and-a-half payouts, the department's new public safety director, Michael King, introduced a scheduling system earlier this year to put more officers on the street at historically hectic times.
"We did an analysis on what days and times are busiest," King told the news source.
Keeping overtime down is becoming a nationwide problem as municipalities across the country struggle to police Occupy protests.
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