I work at a State prison where there has been a mass exodus of staff and staff shortages are at a crisis levels. Most of the staff that work the prison have a one to 4-hour roundtrip commute.
Things at work are really bad. Officers continue to quit and the AZ State Leg. continues to vote down a competitive pay package that would bring the pay up to levels equal to all other law enforcement agencies in the surrounding areas. Since State offers poor working conditions and considerably less pay, people are quitting and going to comparable law enforcement agencies where they make a starting wage of $6,000+ more than what State offers at their prisons.
The prison is going to 12-hour shifts which means a 16-hour day for me if you want to factor in the four-hour, roundtrip commute. I'm so concerned about the safety of officers on the road. Sleep deprivation is hazardous and probably more so than DUI.
We got news lastnight that an officer at another Unit rolled his vehicle and was thrown 75 yards. He fell asleep at the wheel on his way home after having worked a double. We are all having to work overtime to prevent from getting mandated at the end of our shift. Mandation is a direct order to stay and work the next shift. This officer was managing his overtime to prevent from getting mandated. He is in ICU with internal bleeding and a crushed pelvis. I'm afraid to say it, but there are going to be alot more officers falling asleep at the wheel when they go to the two, 12-hour shifts. I find this situation nausiating because it could have been prevented if AZ State Legislature would raise wages up in order to compete with other law enforcement agencies. They keep voting down a competitive pay raise, and now officers are getting seriously injured. Traffic fatalities are likely in the near future.
The officer who rolled his vehicle has two little girls under the age of five.
When we go to the 12-hour shifts, that really means we are doing doubles back to back, 3 and 4 days straight. Commuting officers will average anywhere from 4 to 6 hours of sleep per day depending on their commuting distance. For me, I get, if I'm, lucky, 4 hours of sleep before I have to get up and go back to work. Just seems so criminal.
I am scared for the remianing officers and the the innocent travellers on the roads that these officers commute on. State legislature still does nothing accept sip on there martinis and go home to their family. Some of us haven't even seen our families because of all the overtime we have had to work. We are having to work two doubles a week to keep from getting mandated. Many are turning to psych meds.
Please pray for the safety of all travelling the roadways that commuting officers use to get to work. Scary.
Praying so hard for God to move the St. Legislature into action in order to save lives.
Dear God, we look for resolve in you. We look for safety in you. Lift us up out of danger. Move the AZ State Leg. into action. Glorifying you my God. In Jesus I live, breathe and pray, Amen.
Things at work are really bad. Officers continue to quit and the AZ State Leg. continues to vote down a competitive pay package that would bring the pay up to levels equal to all other law enforcement agencies in the surrounding areas. Since State offers poor working conditions and considerably less pay, people are quitting and going to comparable law enforcement agencies where they make a starting wage of $6,000+ more than what State offers at their prisons.
The prison is going to 12-hour shifts which means a 16-hour day for me if you want to factor in the four-hour, roundtrip commute. I'm so concerned about the safety of officers on the road. Sleep deprivation is hazardous and probably more so than DUI.
We got news lastnight that an officer at another Unit rolled his vehicle and was thrown 75 yards. He fell asleep at the wheel on his way home after having worked a double. We are all having to work overtime to prevent from getting mandated at the end of our shift. Mandation is a direct order to stay and work the next shift. This officer was managing his overtime to prevent from getting mandated. He is in ICU with internal bleeding and a crushed pelvis. I'm afraid to say it, but there are going to be alot more officers falling asleep at the wheel when they go to the two, 12-hour shifts. I find this situation nausiating because it could have been prevented if AZ State Legislature would raise wages up in order to compete with other law enforcement agencies. They keep voting down a competitive pay raise, and now officers are getting seriously injured. Traffic fatalities are likely in the near future.
The officer who rolled his vehicle has two little girls under the age of five.
When we go to the 12-hour shifts, that really means we are doing doubles back to back, 3 and 4 days straight. Commuting officers will average anywhere from 4 to 6 hours of sleep per day depending on their commuting distance. For me, I get, if I'm, lucky, 4 hours of sleep before I have to get up and go back to work. Just seems so criminal.
I am scared for the remianing officers and the the innocent travellers on the roads that these officers commute on. State legislature still does nothing accept sip on there martinis and go home to their family. Some of us haven't even seen our families because of all the overtime we have had to work. We are having to work two doubles a week to keep from getting mandated. Many are turning to psych meds.
Please pray for the safety of all travelling the roadways that commuting officers use to get to work. Scary.
Praying so hard for God to move the St. Legislature into action in order to save lives.
Dear God, we look for resolve in you. We look for safety in you. Lift us up out of danger. Move the AZ State Leg. into action. Glorifying you my God. In Jesus I live, breathe and pray, Amen.
for you 
