After restrictions, Chesapeake police save on overtime

August 16, 2008 | Virginia News

In the four months since Kelvin Wright was named police chief, he has cut overtime spending significantly and hired a former Marine recruiter to attract new police officers.

Wright said a new policy that places tighter restrictions on overtime and makes bureau commanders responsible for approval has cut spending to an amount he calls appropriate.

Police worked 17,932 overtime hours between Jan. 30 and April 15, the department reported. That dropped by more than 9,000 hours between April 30 and June 30. Costs fell by more than half during that same period, to $267,339.

Wright said he made the change May 15. What was once "for the most part, blanket approval" of overtime is now signed off on if it's needed to maintain the same level of services, he said.

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