Lt. Drage Flick said Ohio County Sheriff's Department officials considered changes to scheduling and work shifts long before the move finally was made.
Since Sept. 7, Ohio County sheriff's deputies have worked four 10-hour shifts a week - a change from the five previous eight-hour work days those law officers observed. Also at that time, the decision was made to change the number of daily shift from three to two. Arriving deputies now clock in at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m, with several other deputies having staggered start times to cover the entire 24-hour period daily.
Deputy Kent Lewis said he enjoys the three consecutive off-days the scheduling change permits. Lewis believes all of the deputies have embraced the move.
"You actually feel like you get a break," Lewis said. "You get to spend (more) time with your family."
But Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne said there are other benefits to the scheduling and shift changes. He said deputies benefit because those three days off afford them more ability to work second jobs, and they are making more money.
"In three shifts, it's tough when someone gets sick, injured or buried with work like during Christmas," Burgoyne said. "You (have to) bring others in for overtime. In two shifts, you don't have to work overtime. Everyone benefits. The budget benefits."
And Burgoyne said the scheduling changes made at the sheriff's department may make smaller Ohio County communities like Triadelphia and Clearview safer. He noted that Ohio County Sgt. Nelson Croft also serves as West Liberty's police chief, and Deputy James Hall is a ranking police officer on the Valley Grove Police Department. He said the many Ohio County deputies who moonlight with smaller departments now have more time do so.
"It's good," Burgoyne said. "They are being law enforcement officers, and they are contributing to public safety in our county. It works out well for the villages and the county. And it works out well from a financial standpoint for the men."
Burgoyne said the initial idea for the scheduling change came from Flick, but the lieutenant said it involved input from a number of people. He said discussion of the concept began more than five years ago, but the department was too short-staffed to make the move at that time.
"I wouldn't say it was my idea," Flick said. "It was something we kicked around six years ago and didn't have the manpower to do it. It came up again after a few more hires and more guys on the road. By going from three (shifts) to two, it put more guys on a shift so you start with more. You weren't running into having only one guy or no guys."
Flick pointed out, though, that the changes could result in some adverse situations for the department and its deputies. He said a department policy dictates that a deputy should not be on a job in the eight hours leading up to a shift as an Ohio County sheriff's deputy. The lieutenant said a 10-hour shift as a deputy and a four- or six-hour shift at a village department could conflict with the sheriff's department's policy.
Flick said that particular scenario has not yet played out, but he fears it may. He also has concerns regarding the potential for deputies to spend a very long day on the job.
"If you make an arrest toward the end of your shift, you could be looking at a 12-hour shift," Flick said. "That's happened, but it hasn't been a problem."