Defiance council approves trial of 12‑hour police shifts to address staffing and wellness

The Defiance City Council on Jan. 27 voted to allow a trial of 12‑hour shifts for the city police department, a change the police chief said would improve staffing continuity and officer wellness.

Council consented to an amendment with Local 166, the police union, authorizing a limited trial before contract negotiations at the end of the year. The chief told council the department hopes to schedule six officers per 12‑hour shift — a change he said would reduce shift changes, improve continuity for investigations and help control overtime costs.

"With more time off, you have more time to recuperate in between shifts," the chief said in response to questions about fatigue. He described a sample rotation as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and said the arrangement is familiar in other Northeast Ohio departments.

Council members asked about fatigue, overtime and whether the model would increase long‑day overtime when officers are called in to cover absences. The chief said the plan was designed to increase daily staffing (six per shift rather than a four‑person minimum) so sick calls or training would not automatically force overtime; he acknowledged some 12‑hour overtime could occur but said overall costs should fall because more personnel are assigned each day.

Council voted to suspend the rule and adopt the ordinance authorizing the trial. The measure was presented by Mister Mack and the chief answered detailed questions from council during the discussion. The trial will be evaluated during the contract year and the city said it will return to eight‑hour shifts if the trial is unsuccessful.

The council recorded the action by roll call; members moved to adopt the ordinance and it carried. The chief said the department will report back to council on how the pilot affects staffing, overtime and service delivery.