The City of Noblesville and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 198 have mutually agreed to change how holiday hours are assigned to patrol division officers.
“We’re providing the night shift the exact same opportunities as the day shift. It’s the exact same for both shifts,” Deputy Mayor Mike Hendricks said.
Hendricks said officers work 12-hour shifts – 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. – but holiday time is considered midnight to midnight.
“The day shift has their whole work day within the holiday,” he said, adding that those officers working the first five hours of a holiday will be paid more.
The city will change its holiday designation for officers to be 5 a.m. to 5 a.m. Hendricks said the move does not create a financial change because 12 officers a shift (24 total) will be paid.
Hendricks said the move allows the police department to reduce its patrol numbers or allow holiday shift changes. He said previously officers were wanting to use vacation or count time for the five hours they were on the holiday while vacation time is used in two-hour increments.
“It allows for staffing reductions during holiday time when historically we aren’t as busy,” he said. “Officers can be off at their regular rate.”
Det. Mike Sadler, who serves as FOP president, said the lodge is fully supportive of the change.
“It’s important first responders and the police department give officers on the night shift opportunity to take off a whole holiday,” he said, adding the shift minimum is six officers. “It’s especially important for Christmas and Thanksgiving because calls for service are so low.”
