Police Shift Schedule Calendar

Shift patterns for police officers

• Pitman Schedule14-day cycle, 42 h a week
• Panama Schedule28-day cycle, 42 h a week
• 4 on 4 off Schedule8-day cycle, 42 h a week
• DuPont Schedule28-day cycle, 42 h a week
• 4-3-3-4 Schedule14-day cycle, 42 h a week

Overtime for police under 7(k)

A public agency can pay law enforcement officers overtime on a work period of 7 to 28 days instead of the 40-hour week: overtime is due after 171 hours in 28 days, 86 in 14 days or 43 in 7 days (29 CFR 553.230). The rule covers officers empowered by law to enforce laws and keep the peace, with the power to arrest and the training that goes with it, whatever their rank (29 CFR 553.211). Typical examples are city police, sheriffs' deputies, state troopers and highway patrol officers.

12-hour patrol and the work period

A Pitman rotation works 84 hours every 14 days. On a 14-day work period the threshold is 86 hours, so the schedule itself creates no overtime. On a 7-day work period, every week with four or more 12-hour shifts (48 hours or more) passes the 43-hour threshold.

Correctional officers

Security personnel in jails and prisons, meaning staff responsible for controlling and maintaining custody of inmates, are treated as law enforcement under 7(k) and use the same 171-hour standard (29 CFR 553.211(f) and 553.230(b)). Staff in culinary, maintenance, teaching or medical services in the facility are not included and get overtime after 40 hours a week (29 CFR 553.211(g)).

Trading shifts

Two officers of the same agency can swap shifts if both agree freely and the agency approves. The hours worked as a substitute are left out of the overtime count, and each officer is credited with their normal schedule (29 CFR 553.31).

Tips

• Choose "All crews" to see which squad is on patrol each day.
• If you work four 10-hour shifts and three days off, use "Build your own" and type DDDDOOO (D for a day shift, N for nights, O for a day off).
• Copy the link to share your schedule with your family; it opens on any phone without an account.
• See your yearly hours and pay on the shift pay calculator.

Work out 7(k) overtime for your work period.

Questions