Improving Public Safety with Transparent Scheduling Systems

In the 1990’s, the Clovis Police Department staffed roughly 100 people. Today, that number has more than doubled. This growth period improved the department’s ability to serve its community, but it also meant keeping up with increasingly complex schedules and operations.

To help manage this rapid growth, Clovis PD recognized the need for new technological advancements – and PowerTime was the first step into a more streamlined future.

Held back by the past

In 2011, Captain Casida, a long-time officer at Clovis PD, was promoted to Lieutenant. He knew that technology could help his department become more efficient. “As a Sergeant, I was irritated with the archaic paper system we had,” he said. “When I made Lieutenant, I just decided to make a change.”

Clovis PD had a wall in their briefing room covered with an entire 6 months of patrol schedules. “By the end of the rotation, it was covered with highlighter, white out, and handwritten notes,” Captain Casida explained. “It was difficult to see how staffing was being covered.”

The department desperately needed a schedule that was accessible and clean to avoid mistakes and confusion. To do this, a system that allowed for centralized access and communication was key.

Embracing automation and accessibility

Clovis PD implemented PowerTime, formerly called PlanIt, in 2011 and knew it was right for them because the software provided streamlined scheduling features at an affordable price.

The department still makes a new schedule every 6 months; however, now it is very clear to everyone in the organization when any changes are made to the schedule. PowerTime allows Captain Casida’s team to automate staff notifications when the schedule changes. Staff can also use the system to easily request time off or pick up open shifts, and the software automatically updates the schedule in real-time.

Captain Casida also recognized the importance of PowerTime as the department hires younger, more tech-savvy recruits. The officers appreciate and rely on the platform’s accessibility, which they can use on their mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. PowerTime lets officers check their schedule, submit overtime, and request vacation time from any device, in any location with access to the internet.

Finding benefits in unexpected places

Amidst these scheduling and accessibility improvements, Clovis PD quickly realized this only scratched the surface of PowerTime’s benefits. The receptive culture and exceptional customer service at PowerTime made all the difference in creating a positive experience. Over time, Captain Casida found that when they needed assistance, someone was always there to help.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of technology companies over my 26 years, and [you are] the most responsive of them all. Not only are you willing to make changes, you take the time to understand what we’re talking about and the problem we’re trying to solve. That’s rare in public sector software.”

-Captain Casida, Clovis Police Dept

Whenever Captain Casida has a question or concern, with just a simple call or email, he can connect with his dedicated customer success manager to resolve the issue.

Leading change for a greater purpose

After using the system, Clovis PD found that it did not provide an overtime scheduling feature. So, they mentioned this to the PowerTime team. Clovis PD worked with the software developers to create a customized overtime form that would convert their paper process to an on-screen process. Since overtime is carried out similarly in departments across the country, this addition became a huge component for the system nationwide.

“The staff was open to understanding how we want to use the system and made adjustments accordingly,” Captain Casida explained. “We operate very differently than EMS or fire and you didn’t try to make us adapt to the software, but rather made the software work for us.”

-Captain Casida, Clovis Police Dept

Cultivating trust in public service

Clovis PD has trusted PowerTime, formerly PlanIt, with their scheduling and overtime needs for more than 6 years – not only for the functionality and affordability, but also for the culture of quality service that sets them apart.

PowerTime is proud to help Clovis PD improve the department’s systems with service-minded technology and ensure they do right by their community. “We have a culture of doing the right thing and going the extra mile,” Captain Casida said. “The community recognizes the effort and supports us. That continued support keeps us going.”