MARCH 20, 2025|
Photo – RPD Patch and Badge – Bigfoot99 file photo
In Rawlins, the city council has reduced the number of hours members of the police department have to work before they receive overtime pay.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, the governing body discussed a resolution to suspend the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s 86-hour overtime rule for police.
City Manager Tom Sarvey explained, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the city may decide not to pay overtime until police officers have worked over 86 hours in 14 days.
In 1938, the federal government created the Fair Labor Standards Act to establish minimum wage, overtime pay eligibility, record-keeping, and child labor standards in the United States. The act sets specific overtime provisions for public safety employees, such as police officers. As well as the 86-hour rule, the Fair Labor Standards Act stipulates that police should be paid overtime if they’ve worked 171 hours within a 28-day period.
At Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Sarvey said the council may choose to suspend the Fair Labor Standards Act, as long as the city does not violate the 86-hour overtime rule. Under the proposed resolution, Rawlins police officers will be paid time and a half after they’ve worked more than 40 hours in a single week.
Unlike police officers, the Fair Labor Standards Act dictates that firefighters be given overtime pay after they’ve worked more than 112 hours in a two-week period. City Manager Sarvey explained that the difference stems from the fact that firefighters have more down time than police officers.
The resolution under consideration states that the city will suspend the Fair Labor Standards Act’s 86-hour rule until the Rawlins Police Department reaches a sufficient staffing level. Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked what constituted a “sufficient” level of staffing.
City Manager Sarvey said the resolution will remain in effect until police are no longer required to work overtime due to a shortage of officers. At that time, the council may choose to rescind the measure.
The Rawlins city council unanimously approved the resolution to suspend the 86-hour rule, allowing police officers to receive overtime pay for any hours worked beyond 40 in a week. The measure will remain in place until the Rawlins Police Department hires additional officers or the council decides to revoke the resolution.
