writing need help please

Deploying and Scheduling Personnel

 
Write a response to the following prompt:

• Identify the most favored and least favored shift schedules in the U.S. for police personnel. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of those three that are the most prominent.  
• Compare permanent shifts versus rotating shifts, including advantages and drawbacks of both.
• What is the role of police unions in shift scheduling?
• What impact does shift work have on family members? Do you think family should be considered in making decisions regarding which shift an officer should be employed on? Why or why not?

Our response first, then students answer

WEek 4 Discussion 1 Heather wrote

The most favorite shift is the 10 hour shift, 4 days a week with three days off.  The advantages of a 12 hour work shift is that they have 3 days to rest, and they can overlap officers during peak times.  The disadvantages would be fatigue.  Working 10 hours a day, even though this is attractive to many officers, would increase the stress.  This may not work for some police departments.  Ashland Police Department does the 4 days on and 3 days off.  This works for us, because we are a small department. 

The least favorite would be the 12 hour shifts.  The advantages would be that they work 3 days and have 4 days off.  The advantages is that it increases productivity and employee morale’s. The disadvantages would be stress, and fatigue. 

The comparison of fixed shift vs. rotating shifts. The fixed shift allows officers to have a choice on what days they prefer to have off.  According to our text, “the primary advantages of having personnel work a permanent or fixed shift is its simplicity of scheduling and assignment of officers work load” (Peak, Gaines, & Glensor, 2012).  Physiological problems for police officers are the fringe benefits for the officers who have been on the job longer.  The disadvantages is that a newly hired or rookie officer is placed on the graveyard shift, they have less experience and it causes stress. 

The rotating shift.  The advantages would be the opportunity to experience different kinds of work that will occur, they have more time for their family with days off.  The disadvantages would be considered as “jet Lag”.  This causes disruptions in their home lives, pursuit of higher education, and fatigue.

The impact that rotating shifts has on family is not being able to make plans in advance.  It causes domestic violence, and divorces.  The fixed shifts would work better with men and women who have children.  They are able to make plans, and see their kids like men and women who are not in the law enforcement field. 

I do think that family should be considered for those officers regarding what shift to work.  Those with young children should work the day shifts, and those with teenagers should work the night shift or grave yard.  I say this about teenagers, because you will be able to keep taps on your kid’s activity when you have the time. 

Peak, K., Gaines, L. & Glensor, R. (2010). Police supervision and management in an era of community policing (3rd ed.) Upper saddle, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN: 9780135154663