Penn Hills council makes 12-hour police shifts permanent, citing morale and hiring gains

The Penn Hills council voted unanimously to adopt a permanent 12-hour shift schedule for the borough's uniform police patrol, approving Resolution 2026-2 after public comment and council discussion.

Adam Lawrence, a Penn Hills resident who identified himself as a member of the Penn Hills Police Department and former chair of the department's advisory board, urged the council to make the change permanent. "Since the implementation of the 12-hour schedule, morale has improved in a tangible way," Lawrence said, and he pointed to hiring figures he described as evidence: "In our most recent hiring cycle, we received over 60 applications. In the previous cycle, we received just 18." Lawrence said the schedule had improved officers' work-life balance and reduced burnout, which he said supported recruitment and retention.

Newly elected Councilman Ian Carr, who said he had followed the initial trial in 2024, said Chief Bonise and staff had answered his questions and that he was convinced the schedule "does provide a better quality of life and it makes us a more desirable place to work for police in the area." Other council members praised the department's morale and leadership.

Council members discussed the issue without proposing amendments and then held a roll-call vote. The transcript records unanimous support from council members present; the chair announced the resolution approved.

The resolution, as presented in the meeting, adopts addendum No. 1 to the 2023—6 police collective bargaining agreement to make a 12-hour shift schedule permanent for uniform patrol. The council recorded the vote by roll call and indicated the motion carried. The council did not indicate additional implementation steps in the meeting record beyond adoption.

Supporters framed the change as an operational decision intended to improve officer wellbeing and recruitment. In his remarks, Lawrence said the department's recent recruitment increase had prompted inquiries from other agencies about Penn Hills' approach to scheduling. No council member cited specific negative operational impacts during the discussion recorded in the transcript.

The council approved the resolution during the same session and moved on to other council business. According to the meeting record, no formal amendment or request for additional reporting accompanied the vote; any follow-up in staff reports or future agendas was not specified in the transcript.