Patrol Shifts

Permanent Shift

A permanent shift is just that. Officers typically bid for it, or it can be assigned by the administration. The officer is assigned one shift and only one shift.

The advantages of this type of shift consist of being able to familiarize yourself with the problem areas and become acquainted with troublemakers and/or police-friendly citizens. The citizens are more at ease when dealing with the same officer every day. Not having to explain their issues to different officers each time there is a problem enables citizens to feel as though their problems/concerns are being addressed.

Another advantage is that the officer is able to make accommodations in advance for issues such as vacation time. Knowing that he or she will be on the same shift a year from now enables the officer to schedule appointments, vacations, educational/ training activities, and so on ahead of time. For those officers who have enough seniority, a permanent shift is desired if the shift is chosen in a bid process. The senior officer is able to choose the shift that is most conducive to his or her likes or schedule.

One disadvantage to the permanent shift could be a stagnant or bored feeling for the officer. Some officers desire change, and those who do often see permanent shifts as holding them back. The rookie officer who may desire a midnight shift or evening shift in a high-crime area may end up on a day shift in a low-crime residential area. This can cause a new officer, who desires high-priority or in-progress calls, to become disillusioned because of the high amount of service-related calls that the day shift can produce.

Rotating Shift

A rotating shift is typically a shift that places the officer on a day shift for a certain amount of time, then an evening shift, and then a midnight shift, before starting over again. It can range from rotating every week, to every month, bimonthly, and so on. This can be an especially difficult type of shift to endure.

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