To the editor:
Having conducted an experimental study on shift length in policing, we found that the eight-hour shifts offered no unique advantages that are present in some compressed schedules.
Indeed overtime was drastically reduced in 10-hour shifts, and moderately in 12-hour shifts. Importantly, those on 10-hour shifts averaged about half an hour of increased sleep time over the eight-hour shifts.
Given substantive research by Bryan Vila and others that shows police officers have a higher rate of sleep disorders than members of the general population, the finding of greater sleep amount may be particularly important in mitigating these problems.
All shift schedules should take into consideration the amount of overtime and off duty employment of officers to ensure that they are not working at levels that would affect their general welfare and safety, but also the safety of the communities in which they work. For further information, go to: http://www.policefoundation.org/content/shift-length-experiment.
Karen L. Amendola,
Chief Behavioral Scientist Police Foundation Improving Policing Through Innovation and Science ,
Washington, DC
