Letters

I have been a resident of East Hampton Town for about 40 years and I would like to speak about the East Hampton Town Police Department and hope this will help the police officers get the proper schedule they need.

I have always admired the Police Department but have noticed that the police officers are on an eight-hour schedule, and because of this officers are being either burnt out or we only are having four cops patrolling the township. To me, this is a huge safety concern.

Also, with four police officers working, this really upsets me in the event something happens. What is the response time?

I heard the department has had 12-hour tours, but from what I have gathered it was stripped “due to productivity.” This seems unfair, due to the fact that 12-hour tours had a good number of police officers on the road.

There are several potential reasons why the East Hampton Town Police department may consider switching to a 12-hour schedule with an eight-hour rotation:

• Increased coverage: By working longer shifts, officers may be able to provide more consistent coverage throughout the day and night. This could be particularly beneficial for areas that have high levels of activity or crime during certain times of day.

• Cost savings: With longer shifts, there may be fewer officers needed to cover the same amount of time, which could potentially save the department money. Additionally, having a rotating schedule could help to reduce the need for overtime pay.

• Improved work-life balance: While 12-hour shifts may be longer, having more days off could provide officers with more time to rest and recharge, which could lead to better job satisfaction and mental health.

• Reduced administrative burden: With a simpler schedule that repeats every eight hours, there may be less administrative work involved in managing scheduling and payroll, potentially freeing up time and resources.

• Consistency with other departments: If other law enforcement agencies in the region or state are already using a 12-hour/eight-hour rotation schedule, adopting a similar system could help to facilitate coordination and communication between agencies.

It’s worth noting that implementing a new schedule can be a complex process with potential drawbacks as well as benefits. The department would need to carefully consider the impact on officer safety, the availability of resources to support the new schedule, and the potential for increased fatigue or burnout among officers. Ultimately, any decision to switch to a new schedule should be made based on careful consideration of all relevant factors and with input from officers and other stakeholders.

I hope that this will help maybe make a decision to go to 12 hours like they used to do.

William Cap

East Hampton