YOUNGSTOWN POLICE Overtime hit $1.47 million in '05

Two months of traffic control for the Chevrolet Centre cost about $45,000.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police department overtime increased by roughly 30 percent in 2005, with many officers working sixth days.
Police overtime for 2005 was $1.47 million, finance department records show. The records are complete through Dec. 23, 2005, the last pay period of the year.
Overtime rose 31 percent last year when compared to $1.13 million in the 2004 annual report. In 2005, about 22 percent of the premium time was covered by grants or law enforcement partners, a decrease of roughly 10 percent from 2004, records show.
Aside from sworn officers, the police department payroll includes clerks, garage crew, emergency dispatchers, a social worker, secretary, network analyst and project analyst.
Sixth-day overtime jumped from $27,668 in 2004 to $196,287 last year, according to fiscal management office records. The records show the entire year but somewhat understate the dollar amounts because wage increases and incremental extras figured into officers' hourly overtime rate are not included, officials said.
Shortage through attrition
Lt. Robin Lees, police spokesman, attributed much of the sixth-day increase to a shortage of officers through attrition. He said the department did not receive approval to employ more officers, except for three hired in June with a housing grant.
Payroll records show the department had 191 officers last year. A handful of those left or were not at work for other reasons a good part of the year.
In late 2002, Finance Director David Bozanich told The Vindicator that if the half-percent income tax increase passed that November, the police department would fill vacancies and be at 206 officers. Voters approved increasing the tax from 2.25 to 2.75 percent.
Bozanich said last week that the city didn't commit to 206 officers and would not commit to a minimum staffing level. He said a fixed cost is associated with each employee whereas overtime is a variable cost.
He said, for example, that the nearly $200,000 in overtime spent for sixth days is roughly equivalent to what it would cost to employ 21/4 police officers annually. It is generally more economical to pay overtime than hire because of the fixed costs associated with full-time employees, he said.
Lees said the shortage of police clerks (laid off and not called back) also exacerbated the sixth-day costs last year, with officers and clerks filling in the open spots on an overtime basis.
He said then-Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. gave patrol commanders discretion to fill positions as they saw fit. Some of the positions that were filled can be attributed to employees who called off sick.
Sick days
A total of about 19,000 sick hours were used in 2005, valued at more than $420,000, finance records show. Twenty-one employees used no sick hours.
When asked if there would be a push to hire more officers, new Police Chief Jimmy F. Hughes said he's working with the number he has and making adjustments to put more police on patrol. He said he hasn't yet discussed staffing with the mayor and finance director.
Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, head of the finance committee, also was asked about the prospect of hiring police. "What I want to do is sit down with the chief, let him get a feel of what he needs, and then go from there," he said.
Hughes said the nature of what police do sometimes requires overtime for emergencies or to fill open shifts. He said he's taking a look at ways to reduce overtime.
The 2005 budget was $19.3 million, with nearly 90 percent devoted to payroll, Bozanich said. The payroll included $698 hazardous duty pay and $940 uniform allowance for each officer and longevity pay that ranged from zero to $1,415, depending on years of service.
Moneymaker
The Chevrolet Centre, meanwhile, proved to be a moneymaker for city police working traffic details.
Overtime for the downtown arena for a two-month period in 2005 -- Oct. 29 (first event) through Dec. 31 -- cost roughly $30,000, fiscal management records show. An additional $15,000 in overtime was banked as accumulated time, meaning the hours will be converted to days off at a later date.
Roughly 40 percent of those who worked the traffic details are ranking officers -- detective sergeants, lieutenants and captains. The higher ranks, by union contract, have equal access to overtime assignments.
The Chevrolet Centre's management pays for inside security.
The cost of traffic and crowd control, called "from the curb out," is being absorbed by the city. If the trend continues, the cost for 2006 could reach $250,000 in overtime and accumulated time.
Bozanich said he doesn't expect the cost to exceed $100,000.
He said tacking a fee onto tickets is one way to help defray the cost, but the fee would have to be negotiated with individual promoters. The city's intent is to collect a surcharge where it can, he said.
The finance director said traffic control is a function of city police and having the need for traffic control is a "good problem to have" -- it means people are visiting the city. He pointed out that the city subsidizes a variety of other events each year by providing a police presence when needed.
"Creating a safe environment is the primary reason we're there," said Capt. Kenneth Centorame, who schedules officers to work the Chevrolet Centre traffic details. "That hasn't changed."
Centorame, head of the services division, said he expects the new administration to discuss the situation and provide him with direction for the coming year.
Hughes said the city has a commitment to provide protection for those attending events at the Chevrolet Centre, and it is his responsibility to continue the commitment. He said he may be able to cut the overtime by assigning some regular-duty officers to the traffic details.
Positive feedback
The chief said he's received positive feedback from visitors who came to town for arena events.
"People have been impressed, they thank us, say they feel protected," Hughes said. "The money spent is well worth it for the protection we've been providing."
Centorame said hockey ends in March and he doesn't know what events to expect until it starts up again in November. He said 11 events are on this month's schedule.
The practice of some plainclothes officers working holidays, meanwhile, has been stopped. Hughes issued a memo earlier this month to that effect. The exceptions are plainclothes officers called out to work and those who receive express permission from the chief.
In 2005, it cost more than $17,000 to pay plainclothes officers, especially those assigned to the detective and internal affairs divisions, to work holidays. As an example, six to eight officers worked each of these holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Christmas (Dec. 26).
meade@vindy.com