Analysis of LAPD flex time sought

Amid concerns about problems and costs of Los Angeles police officers working three days a week, 12 hours a day, some City Council members called Wednesday for a financial analysis to determine whether the schedule is cost-neutral, as proponents promised it would be when it began five years ago.

The Times reported last week that the flexible work schedule has had mixed results, and that a critical report by City Administrative Officer Bill Fujioka had renewed debate on whether to keep the schedule.

Councilman Bernard C. Parks, a former LAPD chief, wrote the motion presented Wednesday that seeks the analysis of costs and savings from the so-called compressed work schedule, which also has some officers working four days a week.

Parks noted that the city administrative officer study found police response times are longer and overtime costs have increased since the flexible work schedule started.

However, he said, past studies have not looked at other cost issues, including the promise of proponents that holiday hours would be reduced if officers worked fewer days a week.

“This data has not been presented in various ... reports, so it is unclear whether implementation has been cost-neutral,” Parks said.

The council approved the flexible work schedule in 2001.

Parks, who chairs the council’s Budget and Finance Committee, also got the signatures of council members Jan Perry, Ed Reyes, Bill Rosendahl and Tony Cardenas on the motion Wednesday.

“This is just another example of Chief Parks’ continued grudge against the department he no longer runs,” Police Protective League President Bob Baker said Wednesday.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com