Article Highlights
Research has proven that shift length has an effect on an officer's performance. But what is the perfect length? Having short shifts makes it difficult to make sure you have 24x7 coverage. While on the other hand, having shifts that are too long puts your officers at a higher risk of fatigue, which can affect their performance.
So what is the best shift length for officers on patrol?
According to the Police Foundation's research, shift length impacts an officer's performance, overtime use, safety, health and quality of life. The Police Foundation studied 8-hour shifts, 10-hour shifts, and 12-hour shifts.
Their research found that 10-hour shifts have advantages over 8-hour shifts, and officers working 12-hour shifts showed lower levels of alertness.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each shift length to help determine the best fit for work life quality in your department:
8-hour
Pros
- Predictable routines help officers establish work-life balance
- More frequent handovers improve communication and situational awareness for the department
- Shorter shifts reduce fatigue compared to longer alternatives
- Officers will be more available to pick up overtime shifts
- May be easier to get open shifts filled because of the shorter shift
Cons
- Shorter shifts become more complex to manage
- More transitions increase administrative and briefing time
- May not align well with peak demand hours, requiring additional staffing adjustments
- Officers work more days per week
- Officers filling an open shift will only earn 8 hours of overtime
- Studies have shown that officers on 8-hour shifts work significantly more overtime
10-hour
Pros
- Longer rest periods between shifts improve recovery and reduce burnout
- Better work-life balance due to more days off per cycle
- Overlapping shifts allow for built-in training or administrative time
- Can align well with peak call times for improved coverage
Cons
- Overlap required to maintain full 24-hour coverage, increasing staffing costs
- Slightly more complex to schedule due to varying shift rotations.
- Longer shifts may still lead to fatigue, especially on high-demand days
- May require creative scheduling to ensure fairness in shift distribution
12-hour
Pros
- Fewer shift handoffs reduce miscommunication and briefing time
- Easier to implement compressed schedules (e.g., 3 days on, 4 days off)
- Officers enjoy more consecutive days off, improving morale
- Simplifies scheduling by requiring fewer shift teams
- Officers will earn a significant amount of overtime when covering shifts
Cons
- Long hours increase the risk of fatigue, impacting performance and safety
- If officers take a day off, they're using up more of their time off hours (compared to 8 or 10 hour shifts)
- Hard for officers to manage work and life balance
- Limited flexibility for unexpected staffing changes or mandatory court appearances
- Harder to fill shifts due to the extended work periods
Ultimately, shifts are not limited to these three options. There are some departments who use shift lengths outside of the ones listed here (e.g., 8.5 or 11 hour shifts). The best shift length for your department should be determined by considering the research here but also understanding your officers. What is best for one department may not necessarily be best for another.
Take time to evaluate each option carefully and find the best fit throughout your department. And if you need some new rotation examples to evaluate, check out the top police shift schedules here.
If you're looking for software to manage officer schedules, PowerTime was built just for that. It will allow everyone to see their schedules from any device, wherever they are. You can easily manage time off, overtime, and court appearances. Fill out the form below to meet with one of our experts today to get all your questions answered!
