Interim Chief Rejects 3-Day Work Plan

In a videotaped message prepared for the rank and file, interim Los Angeles Police Chief Bayan Lewis says he has rejected a proposed schedule that would allow many officers to work only three days a week.

Addressing an issue that could otherwise become a sticky morale headache for his successor, Lewis said the schedule--known as the “3/12” because officers work 12-hour shifts, three days a week--is “a great system for the officers” but not for the city.

A copy of the videotape was shown to The Times on Tuesday afternoon by the LAPD press office. Hours later, an LAPD spokesman said release of the tape had been premature and that the chief’s comments may be modified before the tape is viewed by the troops.

Lewis was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. In the brief tape, dated June 16, Lewis speaks about new firearms training and the LAPD’s proposed merger with local transit police, as well as the compressed work schedule proposal.

“We’ve looked at it; we don’t believe the [schedule] benefits the city,” Lewis said in the message, which has yet to be shown to the officers. He said he plans to consider other flexible work schedules that might be more mutually accommodating to the concerns of the officers, the LAPD and city officials.

Lewis’ pronouncement was immediately blasted by union officials. They predicted that morale would plummet and some officers would leave for other departments where such schedules are offered.

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“A lot of our members are going to be upset,” said Dave Hepburn, president of the Police Protective League. “He’s pulling the rug out from under the officers.”

The issue has been one of the hottest topics at police headquarters and with officers on the streets.

Proponents of the schedule, aimed mainly for patrol officers, say the shorter weeks would be good for morale, while the longer days would mean less overtime and better deployment of police officers from their stations. The flexible schedule, they say, would also act as an incentive to keep experienced officers working in patrol, which LAPD reform advocates note was part of the 1991 Christopher Commission recommendations.

Critics of the schedule, including some top department brass, said the schedule poses too many managerial problems and is not conducive to community policing because officers would be off duty more days than they are working. Some have argued that the shifts are too long and officers would be too fatigued at the end of their day to provide quality service.

In the video, Lewis says scheduling problems would occur when officers had to take sick time or appear in court.

Police Commission President Raymond C. Fisher, who was given a copy of the tape, said he respects “the judgment of the chief” on the issue, although he has not “personally ruled out” allowing the schedule sometime in the future.

Hepburn said the community would benefit from the improved morale of the officers if the plan was implemented. Hepburn also said he believes that Lewis has been forced by city officials and commissioners to act as the “fall guy” on the issue.

Lewis has said he intends to tackle tough issues so his successor will not be burdened with them, but he has denied that he was given any specific orders.

In the taped message, Lewis says he plans to study two other compressed work schedules: one that allows officers to work 10-hour shifts, four days a week, and one in which officers work nine days, instead of 10, for an 80-hour, two-week period.