520 Hours Saved Annually: East Lampeter Police Streamlines Scheduling

About

For the East Lampeter Township Police Department, managing officer schedules once meant spending up to 30 hours a week wrangling spreadsheets. The process drained time and energy from their core mission of serving the community. Faced with inefficiencies, communication gaps, and constant manual updates, Captain Zerbe knew his department needed a smarter way to manage time. By implementing PowerTime, a highly configurable scheduling solution from NEOGOV’s PowerDMS, East Lampeter was able to streamline operations, enhance visibility, and reclaim over 500 hours a year. Scheduling went from a time sink to a tool for better service and responsiveness.

Challenge

Manual processes created duplicate work

• The department spent 20–30 hours a week managing spreadsheet schedules. Frequent updates had to be made manually, often requiring duplication of work. Any changes meant printing new versions and re-distributing them physically.

Limited visibility of the schedule

• Officers had to call in or check a printed schedule in the squad room to confirm shifts, court dates, or time off. Shift trades and requests weren’t transparent, making planning difficult and leading to communication gaps.

Solution

Automated schedules saving them time

• PowerTime allowed real-time schedule updates that eliminated duplication and printing. Chief Zerbe can now build schedules for the whole year and adjust them quickly, reducing time spent on scheduling by over 25% — saving 10+ hours per week.

Anywhere access keeping everyone in sync

• Officers can now view schedules, make requests, and check availability from any device. The web-based platform centralizes communication and automates notifications — improving visibility, reducing confusion, and enhancing responsiveness.

Impact

 

By adopting a scheduling solution, the East Lampeter Township Police Department transformed a once time-consuming and error-prone scheduling process into a streamlined, reliable system. The software’s configurability, real-time updates, and mobile accessibility have improved internal communication, reduced administrative burden, and ensured better coverage during high-demand periods.

 

With more than 500 hours saved annually, Captain Zerbe and his team can now spend less time behind a desk and more time focused on public safety. PowerTime has not only optimized scheduling—it has empowered the department to serve its community more effectively.