Voluntary overtime? Get sent home. Mandatory overtime? You have to stay.

So, I just got home from working voluntary overtime at the Annex.  Unfortunately, I only got to work about an hour and 15 minutes before I was relieved.  Apparently, as of last week sometime, the Commissioners accused the Sheriff of mismanaging overtime money and now, if there is any overage of officers at either the annex or the main jail, they balance it out by getting rid of the voluntary overtime officers and sending them home.  What kind of jacked up shenanigans is this?

I understand that officers working overtime cost the county more money than a straight time officer.  I get that.

I understand that if we have extra officers available that we may not need the overtime officers.  I get that too.

What I don't understand is why the VOLUNTARY overtime officers are being screwed when there are anywhere between 8-10 MANDATORY overtime officers sitting in a unit wanting to go home after working an 8 hour shift already.  This makes no sense whatsoever.

Im preparing an email for DSABC President Janssen as well as Lt. Balditt who oversees our personnel issues.  The Lt. that sent me home believes that this may violate our contract with the county with regards to the overtime issues with C/D towers in the Annex.  He may be right.  I simply want to know why they aren't sending home the people that do not want to be there vs. the folks that sign up for the extra work.  Even more so, why aren't we using volunteers for overtime rather than forcing our people to stay over?

UPDATE:  10/29/11 Wow, how things can change.  I brought this issue to the attention of Lt. Janssen, President of the DSABC and he promised to take it to Sheriff's Administration for further action.  After doing just that, Lt. Janssen contacted me to inform me that the course of action previously taken should not have been taken and that common sense should have prevailed.  He further told me that Chief Dovalina was rather upset that this was being done this way and offered to provide an Administrative Directive.  Lt. Janssen declined that offer with the counter that he would speak to the other Shift Commanders and remedy the issue in that way.  Now, if you are working voluntary overtime, you should not necessarily be sent home before the mandatory folks.  Of course, he did offer the caveat that Shift Commanders still retain the prerogative to send home who they wish, but this is a major step in the right direction.  Thank you, DSABC and in particular, Union President Janssen.

Finally, some news...

After a few weeks of no real developments on the issues, I got to have a long talk with DSABC President, Lt. Janssen.  I have to say Im very encouraged and impressed with the level of commitment that Lt. Janssen is exhibiting.  He has some great ideas and some plans that, if successful, will elevate the DSABC, positively promote our agenda and be successful in having a chance at a new relationship with commissioners court. 

Basically, with the election of this new board and executives, there is no remainder of the 'old guard' left in place.  These are fresh faces with fresh ideas and the desire to see change.  I am very optomistic at this point.

On the issue of our staffing, currently we are waiting to see if 40 new positions will be approved.  As I understand it, there are 20 positions currently far enough along in the process to qualify for a cadet class.  Now, I know you are wondering what the hell this is about when just a couple of weeks ago, we were looking at losing 100 positions.  Frankly, I can't answer that as it doesn't make much sense to me either, but honestly, its good news and Ill take all of that I can get.  Rumor has it that the positions are being permitted to offset the loss of the 100 officers and to absorb some of the shortage that we are experiencing.

The restraining order is still on track but its been pushed back a bit to allow the grievance process to be utilized first.  Apparently, there is no question that we will win the grievance and can then move forward with the restraining order.

Plans are also in place to re-approach our relationship with certain members of commissioners court that have long held animosity towards us for whatever perceived wrongs they might envision.  This is where the fresh faces come in.  I have high hopes that new people equals new relationships and new ideas and ways to move forward.