Thunder Bay police unveil restructuring plan

About half of Thunder Bay's police force will soon be working longer shifts.

The Thunder Bay Police Service administration and the Thunder BayPolice Association have agreed to put 108 uniformed officers, as well as 55 civilians, on 12-hour schedules an increase from the current 10-hour shifts.

Police chief J-P Levesque said it will make the department more efficient.

"By the time our afternoon shift comes in on the 10-hour schedules, they're so backed up from leftover day shift calls that they really can't get going on their shift until they clean up the day shift," Levesque said.

"We're hoping to alleviate that problem with the 12-hour schedule."

The plan will also see six non-commissioned officer positions down-graded to constables through attrition, fora total savings of more than $100,000.

The changes take effect in Januaryas a one-year pilot project, after which either the department or the union can opt out of the plan.