YPD to limit overtime to 28 hours max per week
Youngstown & Mahoning Valley - Leaders with the Youngstown Police Department are putting their foot down on excessive overtime spending.
In 2024, the city expensed $3.25 million to cover overtime costs for the police department alone, and now the city council is questioning the numbers. Throughout the past few years, the council voted to reduce the YPD's overtime budget.
Police Chief Carl Davis is putting the brakes on his department's overtime. He explained that maintaining patrol officer staffing is the main culprit for why more than $3 million was spent on overtime in 2024. Officers can work up to 28 hours past their 40-hour work week, adding up to 68 hours a week when needed.
Councilwoman Anita Davis explained the department is low on patrol officers. The number of staffed ranking officers is at capacity.
"Let's get it straight, we foot the bill. The residents of Youngstown foot the bill," explained Anita Davis, 6th Ward Councilwoman and retired YPD officer. "And there's always been a complaint that they're short, short, short. We were crying short, short, short when I was there, and I worked in a department with over 200 officers. 28 hours is too much. You're still looking at nearly doubling the hours worked."
However, some Youngstown Council members agree that 28 hours is still excessive and unrealistic.
Councilwoman Anita Davis' primary concern is physical and mental readiness if officers are working hours on end.
"How can you staff an officer that is fresh and ready to go if he/she works an overnight shift of 8 hours and then they're out again for 8 hours, back to back?" Davis explained to 21 News on Thursday. "When are they sleeping? This is not a job to be snoozing on the clock. They need to be fit for duty."
Davis also suggested the department make adjustments within its scheduling as a solution to limiting overtime.
The Ohio Auditor of State is in the process of conducting an independent YPD and YFD performance audit to see if dollars are being spent efficiently. The audit would also look at things like manpower, whether there's actually a staffing shortage, or whether schedules need to be adjusted.
"The devil will be in the details," said Mike Ray, 4th Ward Councilman, during a March finance committee meeting. "I think all of the items that were requested, I'm not sure if the state auditor can provide all those things, and if not, that'll be something to be worked out."
"Youngstown isn't the first one to have a performance audit, and it won't be the last one," Davis said. "It was important to have an independent study to ensure the study is not biased. We are looking forward to seeing if the department's overtime is justified."
There is no timeline as to when the audit with be completed and its results will be released to Youngstown leaders.
Chief Davis has yet to formally set the rule that enforces the overtime cap.
21 News attempted to reach Chief Davis on Thursday and has not heard back.
