PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 A new analysis of city finances has revealed that the Phoenix Police Department spent a staggering $98 million in overtime during the past fiscal year, an expense driven mainly by the department\u2019s ongoing staffing shortage.<\/p>\n
At a recent Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee<\/a> meeting, city officials confirmed the department is currently short about 500 officers. This shortfall has forced many officers to work extended hours to meet minimum staffing requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just seems like at some level, we\u2019re desperate,\u201d one city official said during the meeting.<\/p>\n Darrell Kriplean, the president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association<\/a> (PLEA), said the effects of the staffing gap extend beyond financial strain.<\/p>\n \u201cIf someone doesn\u2019t fill those shifts, they go unfilled and that creates a safety issue not only for our officers but for the community as well,\u201d Kriplean said.<\/p>\n The report revealed that nearly 40% of overtime in fiscal year 2024\u20132025 was directly tied to staffing shortages, with the second-largest cause being officer call-outs.<\/p>\n With fewer officers available, those on duty are often asked to work additional hours, a situation that raises concerns about fatigue, burnout, and the ability to respond promptly to emergencies.<\/p>\n \u201cThis highlights that overtime is a significant challenge for the department. One that must be managed very closely,\u201d said Kevin Robinson, chair of the Public Safety and Justice (PSJ\u200b)\u200b subcommittee.<\/p>\n The issue isn\u2019t new. Police officials said the department has been dealing with recruitment and retention problems for years.<\/p>\n While the department has recently ramped up recruitment efforts, with 2024 seeing more applicants than in previous years, attrition remains a significant hurdle. According to city data, about 30% of new recruits in the past three years have dropped out.<\/p>\n In response, the city has taken several steps to address the crisis:<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n