Law enforcement works to cut overtime, expenses on The Murfreesboro Post

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Law enforcement works to cut overtime, expenses

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By: LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer

Posted: Sunday, March 1, 2009 6:28 am

Budget restraints are forcing Murfreesboro Police to send officers home after spending a day in court rather than paying overtime and working their shift, said Police Chief Glenn Chrisman.

Chrisman budgeted $825,000 for overtime in the present budget with $238,197.64 remaining as of Feb. 1 with five more months in the fiscal year.

“We are trying to limit it (overtime) when we can with the budget and concerns we all have,” Chrisman said. “We are trying to save money where we can. We are not leaving the city uncovered and we are not leaving the city unprotected.”

In La Vergne, Mayor Ronnie Erwin changed the 45 patrol officers’ work schedule from 10 hours a day four days a week to 12 hours a day three days a week to help curb overtime.

“It actually doubles patrolmen,” Erwin said. “That’s the key. Saving the overtime also helps.”

Instead of having three or four officers per shift, La Vergne now has seven to nine officers per shift. Because of the length of shift, officers have more time to do paperwork without taking overtime.

“I’m pretty pleased with the way it’s working out having more patrolmen on the street,” Erwin said. “Without costing the taxpayers extra money, it’s a pretty good deal.”

Like Murfreesboro, La Vergne has spent about three-fourths of its $178,000 for overtime. Officers attending court account for some of the overtime.

“Court is the one thing we can’t stop,” Erwin said.

Chrisman said he too could not control the amount of time an officer spends in city, state or federal court or grand jury.

“When officers are requested, they have to be there,” Chrisman said.

Allowing the officer to go home after spending a day in court after their shift is also a matter of safety, the chief said.

Officers who work the midnight shift from 9:45 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day have a two-hour layover before General Sessions Court begins. They may be in court until noon or later. With that little break, they might be fatigued if they return to court during their regular shift.

They might not be at peak performance when they’re out in the field dealing with dangerous people, the chief said.

When investigating major crimes, some detectives and vice detectives who follow drug offenses may work a straight 24 hours, he said, adding overtime must remain fluid.

As the city enters the next fiscal year, Murfreesboro officials don’t yet know how much funding they can expect from the state of Tennessee.

City Manager Roger Haley advised department heads to plan for reductions.

“Job 1 for us is to make cuts where we don’t lose positions,” Chrisman said, adding he might have to cut overtime to keep the jobs. “Americans are having to tighten their belts and we are no different.”

The chief doesn’t expect the cuts to affect the quality of service.

“If officers spend a great deal of time in court, we will flex out the midnight shifts,” the chief said. “An officer can’t work 24 hours a day. If you’re up all night and have court all day, you have to rest sometime.”

One of the reductions already occurred with the hiring freeze of 18 officers from January through July. That also saves money for training, equipment, vehicles, uniforms and benefits.

“If it gets serious enough, Mr. Haley said nothing is off the table,” Chrisman said.

He doesn’t expect officers to receive step raises or increases in longevity pay.

“So far there’s been no talk of furloughs,” Chrisman said. “So far, there’s been not talk of cutting pay.”

Chrisman credited the Mayor and City Council with adding police officers and vehicles in past years to extend services of the police department.

“We put 34 new police officers to work last year,” Chrisman said. “We purchased 41 vehicles last year, including patrol cars and vehicles for the Criminal Investigations Division and administration.”

The council and management staff supported growth, allowing the police department to keep up in previous years.

“Thankfully, we’re in a strong position,” the chief said.

Haley and his assistant Rob Lyons are carefully monitoring the sales tax revenue that contributes to city funding.

“The challenge for all of us is to do more with less and more with limited resources and we’re up to that task,” Chrisman said.

Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@mufreesboropost.com.

Tagged under City, Crime

Member Opinions:

By: barrettbear on 3/1/09
Well, if there is not enough revenue coming in and the reductions in staff have to be made, then I guess cut out some services that are not a necessity. Like a co-manager, city manager and mayor. Escorts for funerals, traffic cameras. The reverse on the economy is not near likely to reverse when companies lays off every employee. Where will tax revenue come from and eventually you will see less and less city services here and elsewhere.

By: Farmall on 3/2/09
They sure aren't holding back on writing tickets.

By: barrettbear on 3/2/09
Completely eliminating employees is not an answer to the crisis we are enduring. Cutting back can include coffee,creamer, eating utensils, food and beverages at company meetings, trips local and abroad that require air travel, parking police cars at the station at the end of a shift.

By: citizenkane on 3/3/09
Why want we ask the real question? Why are officers having to stay in court 6 and 7 hours a day? Because our general session judges still run the court system like 1952. There is no reason officers should appear in court unless a preliminary hearing or trail is required. Most of the officers stand there and never even speak with a D.A. or judge about the case they are waiting on. It is a fundemental failure of the G.S judges in Rutherford County to think outside of the box and do what other counties have been doing for years to keep officers from wasting time sitting around in court and paying unecessary overtime. Oh yea, the judges need to work more than 4 hours a day also.
This is not even thinking outside of the box, most agencies rarely pay overtime for court. The judiciary should just look at those more progressive county and city courts to see how those not stuck in the stone age runs a system. So do not be fooled , this is overtime that must be paid, but it could drastically change if we would demand that our elected officials work together in order to change and think more about how they can assist local govt. in saving money. It would take some effort between all branches of the court system, but it is time to embrace some new ideas and quit saying it will not work, when it works everywhere else.

By: devolver on 3/4/09
agreed, citizenkane...

if anyone has had to go to court for any reason what-so-ever....WOW. What a monumental failure. Inefficiency at its absolute BEST. It's actually embarrassing to see the mess/madness that is our criminal courtrooms while we're a city with a population of over 100k people in a county with nearly 220k people. Our city and county planners should be ashamed. ASHAMED.