Work schedules based on a 12-hour shift are not yet commonplace in the law enforcement profession, but it is not hard to find agencies that have implemented them. The pros and cons of this scheduling alternative are often a matter of speculation for law enforcement executives looking for different ways to deploy scarce resources. This article offers a more objective look at 12-hour shifts based on a number of measures, including officer satisfaction, overtime, sick leave use, and employee performance measures.

One advantage of the 12-hour shift is that it provides excellent coverage during peak times—typically late afternoon and evening and on into the early morning hours on weekends. A day shift and a night shift provide basic coverage for 24 hours, while another group of officers is scheduled from early afternoon to early morning hours. Staggered start times allow for constant coverage at the beginning and end of shifts. Although it is possible to build a schedule that provides similar coverage with 8- or 10-hour shifts, or a combination of both, the result is usually more complicated and unwieldy.