How many hours do police officers typically work?

Police officers‘ work hours can vary widely depending on the department and rank, with most working full-time hours and long daily shifts. Some departments have a standard 40-hour work week policy for patrol officers, while others have shifts in the 10 to 12-hour range with fewer work days in a week. Monthly deployment plans, three to six-month rotations, and rotating days off are also common, with the most common schedule for patrol officers being four days per week for 10-hour shifts. Veteran officers may have more control over their schedules, while rookie officers can expect to work nights, holidays, and weekends.