Questioning HPD's overtime policy

HPD's plan to encourage police officers to work overtime to make up for a staffing shortage seems to be working — at least in terms of the overtime. The Chronicle reports today that the number of HPD officers earning more than $50,000 in overtime soared in 2006, totaling 70 — three times as many as earned that much in 2005. The four officers at the top of the list took home more than $100,000 in overtime each, bringing their pay levels near those of top city brass. But is that a problem, or just a sign of hard work? No one seems sure quite yet.

City Controller Annise Parker plans to release the results of an audit today looking at whether the police department does enough to monitor its officers' overtime work. In general, officers are barred from working more than 80 hours a week or a double shift in a 24-hour period, but even working that much could affect how the officers do their job, Parker suggested: "To the average person, thinking about their own work schedule, imagine working 80 hours, week after week. That has to have an impact, if not at the job, than in the family life of the officer."

HPD officials say the hefty overtime payouts can be explained: Many of the 10 highest-paid officers work in mobility and traffic divisions and the department's drunk driving task force, jobs that require not only patrol, but lots of extra hours in court. And some officers may simply have the extra time to volunteer for extra work, HPD spokesman Capt. Dwayne Ready said: "It may be that a smaller contingent of officers who maybe don't have families, aren't in school, or don't otherwise have extra employment — it may be that group is volunteering more." That hasn't explained away some people's concerns, though, including those of Capt. Michael Luiz of HPD's traffic division, who complained to Chief Harold Hurtt in 2005 that a group of accident investigators had conspired to boost their overtime. And though we don't know yet what Parker's audit has found, she told the Chronicle in 2006 that preliminary findings showed "no effective control of overtime at the department."

Parker said her concern isn't just about officer fatigue, but also the possibility that HPD doesn't have measures in place to ensure officers are complying with the department's overtime policy.