Do we have sufficient staffing numbers to ensure that police officers are not working too many hours per week and facing burn out?

Stress in policing is intense, and all managers must be attentive to the effects of stress. We have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with services available to all employees, and the police profession has a network of stress councilors. We frequently debrief with our officers about current events and troubling calls. We also limit the number of hours officers can work.

Over the past 10+ years, we have struggled to reach full staffing. A few years ago, we were down almost 40% of our patrol force. We currently have 5 vacancies, with another expected in February 2021. Hiring through the Civil Service system was an obstacle, but as of 2019, we are now a non-Civil Service community. We just gave an entry level test in August 2020, and we expect to fill all six positions with quality candidates.

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1. Do we have sufficient staffing numbers to ensure that police officers are not working too many hours per week and facing burn out?
2. What types and topics of training are required for a Lexington Police Officer? What types and topics of training required annually?
3. How does training rebalance into cultural competency training, practices for preventing racial profiling and de-escalation training?
4. Can you share any analysis of the effectiveness of each source and mode of training?
5. Given the recent national conversation on policing in the 21st Century, how does Lexington plan to evaluate policing methods to ensure we are leaders in this conversation and not followers?
6. How does civilian oversight work? Can you describe what a "weak chief" is?
7. Can you please describe accountability mechanisms for police behaviors that are outside what is expected?
8. Can you explain why we need detail officers for traffic? Can't flag holders be used instead?
9. Why do police detail officers carry their firearms with them?
10. What role do police unions play with regard to the Lexington Police Department?
11. What is approach of the Town and the Police towards membership of its police officers in police fraternities?
12. What are the Town/Police Department's views on qualified immunity for police officers?
13. With officers working overtime shifts, how do you work to prevent burnout?
14. Has there ever been a civilian board/committee that has worked with the Police Department?
15. How do you ensure that Department policies are followed and that there is a culture of accountability?