1/ Crashed squad cars. Naps on the job. Big paychecks.
Welcome to the El Paso Police Department’s dangerous overtime habit.
revealnews.org/article/office…
Welcome to the El Paso Police Department’s dangerous overtime habit.
revealnews.org/article/office…
2/ Reveal Investigative Fellow @ElidaSPerezEPT, of @elpasotimes, analyzed five years’ worth of overtime records.
She found more than 450 cases in which officers worked at least 16 hours a day. And that was just among the top 10 earners.
She found more than 450 cases in which officers worked at least 16 hours a day. And that was just among the top 10 earners.
3/ Researchers say no officer should work more than 12 hours a day, much less 16.
It can lead to things like:
* poor decision-making.
* greater risk of car accidents.
* a weakened ability to de-escalate volatile encounters.
It can lead to things like:
* poor decision-making.
* greater risk of car accidents.
* a weakened ability to de-escalate volatile encounters.
4/ Yet many in El Paso do. Prime example: Officer David Amparan.
He boosted his $71,000 salary to $130,000 in 2017 with the help of 1,100 overtime hours. Over the last five years, he worked more than 4,200 overtime hours, earning an extra $211,000.
He boosted his $71,000 salary to $130,000 in 2017 with the help of 1,100 overtime hours. Over the last five years, he worked more than 4,200 overtime hours, earning an extra $211,000.
5/ Amparan has been the subject of *16* internal affairs investigations in the past five years: speeding, pranking other officers, allegedly sleeping on the job.
Three of these investigations stem from overtime shifts.
Three of these investigations stem from overtime shifts.
6/ While on OT duty in 2016, Amparan crashed into another vehicle while trying to make a U-turn without his emergency lights on. This internal investigation report says he and the victim were injured. But there are no details about the injuries. documentcloud.org/documents/4779…
7/ On yet another overtime assignment, Amparan was reprimanded for not searching someone he arrested. Officers later found a small amount of cocaine in the suspect’s wallet.
8/ There are a lot of reasons El Paso police are working so much overtime. Including …
* Court appearances.
* Natural disasters.
* Staffing shortages.
* Court appearances.
* Natural disasters.
* Staffing shortages.
9/ That last point is important. The department was actually seeing a net loss in officers each year between 2009-2016. It’s currently considering increasing overtime to maintain minimum staffing levels. That hasn’t been done for 10 years.
10/ Meanwhile, the results of the department’s use of overtime underscore the risks to public safety.
11/ Detective Andres Sanchez, a 30-year veteran on the force, worked about 3,800 OT hours over the last five years, earning $196k above his salary.
In February 2017, he turned into oncoming traffic and slammed into a resident’s car.
In February 2017, he turned into oncoming traffic and slammed into a resident’s car.
12/ While working overtime in October 2016, Officer Michelle Gonzalez crashed into safety wires on I-10: documentcloud.org/documents/4797…
Over the last five years, she’s worked 3,300 overtime hours, earning an extra $165,000.
Over the last five years, she’s worked 3,300 overtime hours, earning an extra $165,000.
13/ The department has a plan to grow its ranks from 1,054 to 1,586 by 2024.
It would be a big change. After all, last year was the first time it saw an increase in officers since 2008.
It would be a big change. After all, last year was the first time it saw an increase in officers since 2008.
14/ This story was produced as part of Reveal’s Investigative Fellowship program. Learn more about it, and how to apply: revealnews.org/the-2017-18-re…
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