Long Beach : Police Overtime Budget Is Exhausted Within 6 Months

The Long Beach Police Department, which has relied heavily on officers working overtime to make up for its understaffing, has used up its overtime budget halfway through the fiscal year, according to officials.

As a result, the department in the last three weeks has begun to cut back on overtime, which is now being paid for with money saved from vacant positions.

As of Dec. 31, the department had spent $3.4 million on overtime, the total amount it was allotted for the entire fiscal year, which ends June 30. The largest portion went to the patrol bureau, which was allotted $283,000 for the year but spent $1.6 million in the first six months.

Overtime has become an indispensable law enforcement tool in Long Beach, but police officials say they can make up for the decrease in overtime by hiring new officers, who will reduce the need for veteran officers to work extra hours.