Working Iowa: Marion Police Department opts for 12 hour days, more time off

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Marion Police Division is on the lookout for extra folks to hitch its pressure. They’ve taken a singular strategy to try to entice extra officers.

“We’re quick officers similar to each regulation enforcement company within the nation,” mentioned Tom Daubs with the Marion Police Division.

In January, they switched from working 8 hour shifts to 12 hour shifts, with extra days off.

”You get each different Friday, Saturday, Sunday off so essentially the most you’re employed is 3 days in a row,” Officer Amanda Clark mentioned.

Daubs says patrol officers are primarily working two days on, three days off, then three days on, two days off.

”For the officers which means they’re working half the yr, primarily 6 months,” he defined.

Daubs says the mathematics provides as much as a further 70 days off per yr. It’s one thing officers say has boosted ethical.

“More often than not folks wouldn’t have a weekend off,” mentioned Clark.

“After I bought employed in 1995, it was a pecking order. You needed to work your method as much as seniority after which you may have weekends off,” Daubs mentioned.

The brand new schedule was designed to provide officers extra household time, and permit extra folks per shift, all whereas hopefully attracting job candidates.

To grow to be an officer you do need to go a bodily and written check, go to the police academy, and full coaching.

“On a regular basis is totally different. I didn’t actually need to do like a desk kind of job so coming into work I imply we’ve got the identical kind of calls however you don’t know what’s going to occur on a regular basis,” Clark mentioned.

The officers say the Marion Police Division is filled with good folks. They instructed us the shift in hours has made working there even higher.

You’ll be able to be taught extra about changing into an officer right here.

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