Anchorage Police Department
Service Since 1921

MEMORANDUM


Date:		September 28, 1994
To:		Sgt. Robbie Heun
President, APDEA
From:		Captain Laren J. Zager 
Commander, Staff Services
Subject:	Work Schedule Construction for Last Quarter, 1994 — APDEA 
	Participation

As you know, when APD went to the 5/8’s schedule on September 1st of this year, both 
the concept of having employees work a five day week and the actual structure of the 
resultant eight hour shifts came under great criticism. Knowing from the onset that a 
change as complex and sweeping as this could not be designed and implemented perfectly 
the first time, we have anticipated the need for refinements. As such, the entire process 
has been under close and constant review, and the following picture has emerged:

> The five day work week itself has achieved its predicted staffing numbers and 
overtime savings. Too, the logistics of administering a “no overlap” system got off 
to a rough start, but now appears workable (writing the reports on shift, collecting 
them in the field, shorter fallouts, and the like). Notwithstanding the obvious 
debilitation of employee embitterment, the numerical and functional merits of a 
five-day work week have been realized.

> The structure of the shifts, however, needs refinement. The problems 
experienced with the current four, 8-hour shifts, whether real or imagined, have 
not only announced the necessity for change, but have essentially described what 
the next structure must look like.

Candidly, we want to re-double our efforts to be more sensitive to both the impacted 
employees and to the role of the Association. In that spirit, I want to offer you an 
opportunity to inspect the proposed shift structure to begin in December, 1994, to not 
only analyze its compatibility with the contract, but to afford you an opportunity to offer 
suggestions. Please understand, too, that this would be restricted to a meeting and 
conferring on the shift structure, and should in no way prejudice your position on the 
distinctly separate issue of the concept of the five day/eight hour work week in general.





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I have a keen interest in announcing the new structure at the earliest time possible, thus 
allowing extra time for the employees to mentally adjust, ask questions, make personal 
arrangements, and the like. As such, I am holding 10:00 am Friday, September 30, 1994, 
open at my office for this review. If you feel any other persons should be present, feel free 
to bring them as well.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.



(Original document initialed by Laren J. Zager and 
received and signed by Rob Heun at 1300, 9-29-94)