Secretary

As the department budgetary cuts reach the investigative units throughout the city, investigative overtime is being reduced to the point where it is virtually non-existent.

Yet there are cases, many of which require investigative efforts beyond your assigned tour of duty. Victim availability, business records, banks etc., are all issues, which require the investment of time into the thorough pursuit of these cases. Now that requests to pursue these cases on overtime, when necessary, are routinely being denied, we must as professionals, try to work beyond these limitations.

Often our most reasoned arguments for investigative overtime are rejected for budgetary reasons. The Detective Supervisors are responding to directives from above, and they are also aware of the negative effects of arbitrary limitations.

The resolution of cases will definitely be affected by the inability to follow leads through and beyond specific tours of duty. The increase in armed and unarmed robbery, and crimes
against property, along with the general decline in the economic health of the State and Country, augers some difficult times ahead. We as a Society will continue our efforts to continue to argue for the ability to pursue our cases to resolution without budgetary restrictions fatal to the resolution of the case.

Also, and very import to this issue, is the following, Detectives who request investigative overtime, because they feel it is essential to the pursuit of their case, should make a note in their Detective Case Management of the reason they sought permission for investigative overtime, and the name of the Supervisor who refused it. If in six months you are asked why a particular investigative step was not taken, this statement of refusal of investigative overtime will put the omission in context.