Port Police Commissioners Look to Shift Shifts

It was an army of two against a packed precinct of officers, their families and other community members, as police commissioners Sal Zimbardi and James Duncan tried to defend their position of changing officers' shifts from 12 hours to eight at Wednesday night's Board of Commissioners meeting. Since 1996, the patrol force has worked 12-hour shifts, rotating three months of nights then working three months of days. The commissioners plan to implement the eight-hour shifts starting on July 1.

"One positive is that we'll have police on the streets getting to know more of the community and we'll have fewer injuries," Commissioner Zimbardi said.

"When you're younger, it is easier for officers to complete 12-hour shifts," Commissioner Duncan added. "But as you get older, reaction times could be a bit slower working 12-hour shifts. Eight hour tours could keep the older officers sharp."

Others disagree, including Commissioner Angela Lawlor Mullins, who was the sole commissioner opposed to the eight-hour shift change. According to Port Washington Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President, Steven Cammer, the 12-hour tour schedule has reduced sick time, reduced overtime, and allowed the officers working the 12-hour shifts to have a more normal life due to the compact work week.

"The commissioners feel this change is in the best interest of the district," Cammer said in an e-mail to Port Washington Patch. "But when asked about the cost for implementing the change or why the mid-year change Commissioner Zimbardi had nothing to say except it was a contract issue and it is in our best interest. ... By the way, we have been working without a contract since December and the district has only agreed to one contract meeting since then on March 29, 2010."

Donna Rice, the wife of retired NYPD officer Tom Rice, also spoke of the benefits of officers working 12-hours tours.

"Tours do affect families, as well as officers," Rice said. "When the officers are happy, their families are happy, and I'm happy as a taxpayer knowing that fact. Most of the community know our officers now as it is, they don't need to have eight-hour shifts to get to know the community."

Also at the meeting, a motion was passed that would not allow the commissioners to meet at the collective bargaining table talks, to which Commissioner Mullins was also the sole opposition.

It was the motion that retired officer Tom Rice was adamantly against. "I am very uncomfortable with the commissioners about not being able to go to negotiations, and Commissioner Mullins, should be able to go if she wants to," he said. "I feel they [commissioners Zimbardi and Duncan] are using the tour change as a contract negotiation point. It's an unfair tool used by the commissioners and I'm disappointed with them about this."

Community member Hank Ratner asked about the costs to the community and other benefits on both sides of the argument at the meeting. "You're not making me feel very comfortable by not knowing the costs of switching over to eight-hour shifts," Ratner said. "It might benefit you, Commissioner Zimbardi, to do some outside research. After all, you're an elected official, a business manager of sorts of the police department."

Ratner added that many officers want to know the statistics and costs of going to eight-hour shifts and explained that Zimbardi simply did not have those facts, including what other districts are doing, let alone the numbers within the Port Washington community. Chief Kilfoil interjected with the figures–$43,040 for the first nine days of the shift change, and after nine days, it would be too difficult to determine future costs.

"My duties are in Port Washington only," Commissioner Zimbardi responded.

Cammer and the PBA had the opportunity to rescind the order for eight-hour shifts, but chose not to. "The union feels that the commissioners want us to sign this so they can remove it from the expired arbitration agreement, and so that it can be used as leverage for contract negotiations," Cammer explained.

Zimbardi concluded, "We've heard a lot of opinions tonight and we respect our officers. Hopefully, we can get the papers signed to rescind the order and go back and do the necessary research."