Cleveland police officers are capped at 16 hours per day, but can work 365 days a year, according to Police Chief Dorothy Todd. This is only if they get an eight-hour break between shifts. Some officers can volunteer for extra hours and rack up significant overtime totals, such as one officer earning $176,000 in overtime in 2025 alone. The department has been dealing with a surge in overtime due to staffing shortages and more officers than 100 officers short of its goal in 2026. The overtime hours have led to concerns about burnout and whether officers are overworked. Public Safety Director Wayne Drummond said the department is doing well and that officers love the 12-hour shifts.