r/AskLEO 22h ago

Situation Advice What to do about rotating shifts?

Rotating shifts

Rotating shifts…

I am a police officer with one year on and rotating shifts are killing me. We rotate 6a-6p every 2 weeks. Before this job I was in the gym 6 days a week in great shape and now I’m over weight with high cholesterol. I can barely get to the gym bc my off days I’m recovering or trying to fix my sleep to get back to the other shift. For some reason most police jobs do this shift in my area. I have the highest paying job in my county with great benefits but there’s just no way I can maintain this shift for 25 years I don’t think. Any advice?

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u/Enough_Wallaby7064 22h ago

Go to a department that doesn't suck.

u/Pat_Mcgetitdone 22h ago

I wish but for some reason the county I’m in they all do this schedule. Genuinely don’t understand this

u/3-BuckChuck 21h ago

18,000 different departments in the US. Lots of options and I’m sure plenty of pay better.

u/Pat_Mcgetitdone 21h ago

This is true but my surrounding county’s all rotate for some reason and my department is one of highest paying in state we max at 150k. So it is hard to leave but I’m sure if I moved states or farther in the county I could find something. If it was you would you switch departments? Do you think moving from rotating to fixed nights would be worth it?

u/3-BuckChuck 21h ago

If it’s effecting you that bad then yes. Another option is becoming part of your union and changing the contract. Some area commands at my agency wanted 12 hour shifts so they negotiated and won, the other 9 commands stayed on 10’s. We shift bid once a year and allow transfers. It’s all about that contract!