Columbia Police changing shift structure beginning in September

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department announced officers will move to 12-hour shifts beginning September 5.

Officials say the change aims to increase the number of officers on shifts and available to respond to calls.

Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones says the changed schedule will increase officer safety, improve the Department’s ability to provide training and increase opportunities for officers to take time off.

"We’re committed to minimizing the number of consecutive 12-hour shifts an officer will work," Jones said. "That is in the best interest of the officer and the community."

In the release, the department reports over a two-week period, an officer generally will work 80 scheduled hours. That includes six 12 hour shifts and an eight-hour shift.

The Department’s Operations/Patrol Division reports only 64 officers are available to work however the department is authorized to employ 88 police officers

"In addition to predictable vacancies, officers are not available to work for many other legitimate reasons," Jones said.

Those reasons include military deployments, qualifying medical and family health issues, illness and injuries which continue to compound already low staffing numbers. The Department also has experienced several retirements and resignations. Under these conditions, Jones said that the current 10-hour schedule is inefficient.

"Other units in our Investigative Bureau are carrying vacancies in an effort to keep as many officers on Patrol as possible," Jones said. "With low numbers of officers, we experience prolonged wait times for citizens requesting an officer for non-life-threatening calls."

The department previously worked a 12-hour shift in 2016 but switched back to a 10-hour workday after officers a Columbia Police Officers Association survey showed low morale within the department, with many officers citing the 12-hour schedule.