Some Detroit Cops Claim They Are Working 16+ Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year

[Wesley Mouch]

This update [[a few months old) is from the water side of the City of Detroit:

http://www.dwsd.org/downloads_n/abou...2015-07-22.pdf

Notice, down in the Finance section, that a Six Sigma Lean expert was hired at DWSD.

The "Six Sigma Lean" philosophy has likely also started being applied at DPD. This would mean that, for example, if police officers are doing work which will be performed in less time in the near future due to use of new technology, it is preferred that existing officers work
more OT rather than hiring new officers that will be laid off when the technology is
implemented.

The idea that you don't hire to plug a short-term problem is sensible enough. But we're not talking 20% more overtime, but in some cases doubling of overtime. That would seem to suggest that the problem is chronic, not acute.

But I hope you're right, and there's a plan. I'm suspicious that its just stupidity -- but let's hope.

[DetroitBoy]

The idea that you don't hire to plug a short-term problem is sensible enough. But we're not talking 20% more overtime, but in some cases doubling of overtime. That would seem to suggest that the problem is chronic, not acute.

But I hope you're right, and there's a plan. I'm suspicious that its just stupidity -- but let's hope.

Again, if you do the math on the 16 hour a day claim, it isn't unreasonable when you compare it to ACTUAL HOURS WORKED.

If you work an 8 hour shift and get paid time and a half, the 8 hours you work is equal to the 8 actual hours plus the half which is another 4 hours at your base hourly rate. This means you get paid for 12 hours when you actually worked 8. If you work two hours of overtime due to a special event or a crisis or whatever reason, this additional 2 actual hours counts for 4 pay hours.

So you can work 10 actual hours being paid time and a half and this counts for 16 hours at your base rate. The original article is very misleading because it says nothing about actual hours.

In today's world, very few people work 8 hours a day whether they get paid hourly or not. It is not uncommon for healthcare workers to work regular 12 hour shifts. This isn't any different than this example with the DPD.