Chester police have begun working 12-hour shifts, with the intent of getting more officers on the streets while also giving them better work-life balance.
The shift changes were implemented July 15 at the same time a residency requirement for Chester police was lifted, allowing officers to work for the city without having to live in it.
"I know it's early, but we have seen a difference," Chester Police Commissioner Steven Gretsky said of the changing of shift hours.
Previously, Chester police officers worked in eight-hour shifts. Now, they work 12-hour shifts with two days on, two days off, followed by three days on, three days off in a rotation that gives each officer every other weekend off.
"You're able to have kind of a better quality of life," Jonathan Ross, president of the Fraternal Order of Police William Penn Lodge 19 that represents 174 active and retired Chester police officers. "You don't have to take PTO time to go to a kid's game."
There's another important benefit.
"At any given time, you only had a third of your manpower available," Ross said, adding "With 12-hour shifts, you are there for a good period of time."
That allows officers to better understand what is occurring in the city during that period. For example, if someone is being drunk and disorderly, if they get multiple calls within an hour or few hours, they're familiar with what's happening.
"Here you have a better idea of what's going on in that time period," Ross said.
Plus, it gives officers an opportunity to have a break in their work and to get a mental reset.
The commissioner also highlighted how it allows officers to spend time with city residents.
"The officers are not continuing to go from call to call," Gretsky said. "They have time to interact with the community."
These moves come while the city and receiver are negotiating with the FOP William Penn Lodge 19 on the details of a new contract. Bargaining among the parties began early this year.
Of crime and curfews
It also occurs simultaneously with the city's efforts to decrease an upward trend in crime.
City and county officials say the crime upswing is nowhere near as intense as some of the more difficult times the city has faced, although they also note the importance in giving it attention.
To that regard, a curfew has been placed on juveniles requiring anyone under 18 years old to be indoors between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The mayor has also launched a Safe Summer Initiative to bring awareness to programs and activities for youth and to bring operators of these services together.
Gretsky explained how it works.
He said the juvenile officer, who is also a school resource officer, is assigned to the curfew detail. which he explained is not just an attempt to cite everybody.
"You go back to interacting with the children," he said, giving the example of if a 14-year-old gets stopped 10 times at midnight, police can look into where his parents are.
County officials also moved county employees to Chester to fill non-patrol duties in the police department as a way to move more officers on the street.
"We're still seeing some hiccups staffing-wise," Ross said. "I think it's going to take a little bit."
He said the ideal number of officers to have on the street would be 10 to 12. That, he explained, would allow for a minimum of one officer in each of the eight patrol sectors with two positions inside for backup calls, crime scene assistance or special details.
Gretsky said the 12-hour shift arrangement was a collaborative effort in which a survey was sent to the members of the police department.
Eight five percent, he said, voted "yes" to move to 12-hour shifts.
Gretsky credited both the FOP and the receiver for their collective work in the effort.
"It's only been since the 15th," the commissioner said. "I haven't seen as many call offs — sick, personal — ... I'm thankful we were able to get this done as a team."
Retention and recruiting
As police have been negotiating for a new contract since the beginning of the year, union leadership said keeping and adding to the force is important.
He said the department is allotted for 93 and currently has 60, of which 36 are active police officers.
"We're going to have to do a better job in investing in the retention and recruitment of police officers," Ross said.
He said the pay is $20,000 to $25,000 behind nearby departments with a full rate police officer getting paid $75,000 in Chester while adjacent townships start at $90,000.
The commissioner said Chester's police officer salaries are comparable to other third class cities, although not other more rural areas in Delaware County, where the tax base is different as well.
"We would like to be there," Gretsky said, adding, "Our police department offers what these departments don't."
For example, Chester has a full narcotics division, a full juvenile division, a partnership with the Delaware County District Attorney's Office and special details like Operation Safe Streets. The force also has members who participate on FBI and U.S. Marshals Service task forces.
"Our main goal is the safety of the residents and the children in the city of Chester," Gretsky said. "The patrol is the backbone of a police department. It's your meat and potatoes. They're first responders. They're the first ones on the scene. Any police department will need more."
Gretsky said two officers are about ready to graduate from the police academy and there's another 26 possible applicants that are going to be tested in the next two weeks.
'Really knuckle down'
Ross also offered his perspective on the city's safety.
"I don't have any indication or any belief that Chester's any worse," he said, adding, " Chester's going to have to really knuckle down and we're going to have to work on community involvement."
He said any trend, such as the trend of crime going downward as Chester has seen the last few years, only trend for so long.
"There's an ebb and flow," Ross said. "The fact that we've seen a reduction in crime in certain areas ... is remarkable."
And, he explained, crime is part of life, no matter the geography.
"It's going to happen," he said. "You're going to have to deal with the crime on its face. We're going to have to be realists here. The best person to combat that is a well-trained police officer."
That said, Ross said, the slight uptick being experienced now will change.
"I don't think it's going to continue in this direction," he said. "I think it's going to stop."
Key in that are the officers who make up the department.
"They're the ones who are true combatants to crime," Ross said, praising the Chester officers' commitment. "It's an honor to work with the men and women (of the Chester Police Department). As a supervisor for the guys and girls on my shift, they knock it out of the park and they do it day in, day out."
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