The Knoxville Police Department has announced a new work schedule for patrol officers.

The new schedule, which goes into effect on Sunday, September 12, 2021 was created in an effort to account for staffing shortages and maximize the number of available officers during any given shift.  

Since early 2015, patrol officers have operated on a 4-3 fixed shift. On that schedule, patrol officers worked four consecutive 10-hour shifts every week on either day, evening or night shift. Starting on September 12, patrol officers will work 12-hour shifts, rotating between day shift and night shift every 28 days. Additionally, instead of working four days consecutively each week, patrol officers will work four days total one week and three days total the next week. 

The Community Engagement Response Team will also continue to operate as it did previous to the schedule change, working during the hours of peak call volume to supplement the efforts of patrol officers by proactively addressing violent crime in hotspot areas throughout the city. 

“I am incredibly grateful to our officers for their willingness to adapt to this change, which is not insignificant,” Chief of Police Eve Thomas said. “With the concerning rise in violent crime and homicides along with our staffing shortages, it became apparent that something needed to change to get more officers on the street. That being said, we did not take this decision lightly and understood the added burden it could place on our officers. It’s never easy to have your schedule and routine altered, but I appreciate our officers for their continued sacrifice for the greater good of our city.” 

The new schedule offers several advantages, including the following:  

• The 12-hour rotating shift puts more officers on the street while requiring fewer total number of patrol officers. The new staffing will also add additional personnel to each squad, including additional supervisors.  

• More days off each week and month. During the 4-3 fixed shift, officers worked approximately 19 days per month. Officers will work approximately 14 days per month.  

• No officer scheduled to work more than three days consecutively. Additionally, every other week officers will have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off.  

• Allows every patrol officer to be on day shift and night shift equally. Additionally, the new schedule allows a better balance of the number of officers, the experience of officers and special teams availability each shift.  

“In putting together this new patrol schedule, we wanted something that was fair and equitable for our officers, better spread out our expertise and special teams personnel, put more officers on the street, and focused on the overall well-being of our officers,” Thomas said. “I appreciate the thoughtful and considerate work of my Command Staff to develop a schedule that we feel best accomplishes those goals.”