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Woodbridge police report overtime at 224% amid staffing gaps; commissioners ask for budget analysis
Summary
At a June 15 special meeting, Woodbridge officials heard that police overtime is at 224% and dispatch overtime 169%, driven by vacancies and work‑related injuries; the department aims to reduce overtime by about 25% and will provide more staffing and reporting analysis to the commission.
At a June 15 special meeting of the Town of Woodbridge Board of Police Commissioners, the police chief reported the department had used about 97% of its total budget as of mid‑June while police overtime stood at 224% and dispatch overtime at 169%, figures the chief attributed to staffing vacancies and work‑related injuries.
"If you had better staffing, the overtime numbers would certainly come down," the chief said, noting that two recent hires — Officer Zuskin and Officer Wong — have helped reduce voluntary overtime. The chief also cited one budgeted vacancy that was not filled and one officer on injury leave as continuing drivers of elevated overtime spending.
The commission heard that in fiscal 2024–25 the department budgeted $130,000 for overtime but spent $359,672 (about 277%). The chief said the department aims to improve that performance by at least 25% this fiscal year. Commissioners asked the chief and Finance Director Anthony Genevese to analyze whether a larger budgeted overtime line would better reflect operational needs and to compare how vacant‑position salary savings offset overtime expenses.
Deputy chief figures presented by staff showed a marked increase in proactive traffic enforcement: 528 motor vehicle stops from March 1 through May 31, 2026, compared with 311 during the same period last year — a 70% rise, the deputy said. Commissioners suggested the department pull the demographic stop data the state receives to check for any changes in the profile of people stopped and to be prepared for the state’s periodic review.
On personnel, the chief said one officer remains on an extended absence but is returning to light duty to complete re‑certification. Officer Alex Winer completed field training on June 4 and began independent patrols June 5, the chief added, a development commissioners said should modestly ease staffing pressure.
The commission moved to accept the financial and activity reports as presented; the motions passed without recorded roll‑call tallies.
What happens next: commissioners requested a short analysis from finance and the department on overtime budgeting assumptions, vacancy impacts and how salary savings compare to overtime costs for use in next year’s budget deliberations.
