The Anne Arundel County Police Department is charting a new course for its patrolling officers, switching to a 12-hour shift system that promises to prioritize wellness, improve balance between work and home life, and maintain high service standards. As reported by Anne Arundel County Police, this move is the department's first major operational change in its patrol bureau in nearly half a century. The new schedule cuts down an officer's workdays from 243 to either 182 or 183 days per year, giving them every other weekend free and ensuring periods of work are balanced with rest.
Initiated back in January 2024, the shift change was propelled by a need to address staffing challenges. A focused committee, including the police chief, command staff, and even union representation, dedicated a year to meticulously planning the shift. "This new shift schedule will provide our officers with a much better quality of life by affording them more time off with their loved ones and more time to rest and recover," Chief Amal E. Awad told their department's news release.
Officers now work two or three days in a row followed by an equal amount of time off, a structure aimed at reducing fatigue and improving readiness. FOP Lodge 70 President O'Brien Atkinson played a key part in bridging the gap between management and patrol officers, ensuring the final plan would meet the needs of the department's workforce. The change also hopes to enhance coverage during peak hours by optimizing workforce availability.
The 12-hour shift structure is not unprecedented, having been adopted by various agencies across the region and country. Anne Arundel County PD expects that this new framework will not only benefit the well-being of its officers but also maintain, if not enhance, the level of public service for which the community has come to count on.
