A new audit harshly criticizes the Baltimore Police Department for failing across the board to account for and control police overtime.PDF: Read the police overtime auditThe amount of overtime spent has doubled since 2013.The federal Gun Trace Task Force case revealed embarrassing details about the way overtime was paid without accountability. The audit is another blow to the ability of the department to manage its operations.The new audit rips Baltimore police command for failing to ensure police overtime that gets paid is necessary and warranted."BPD's attendance and accountability practices do not ensure that BPD officers actually work the hours for which they are paid," said Henry Raymond, the city's finance director.The mayor blamed abuse and officer shortages."Is there overtime abuse? I believe so," Mayor Catherine Pugh said. "Do we have the number of officers in the Police Department that we should? Absolutely not."Police overtime has soared: In 2013, the BPD paid out $23 million in overtime. In 2017, the BPD paid out $47 million, the I-Team reported.Through Oct. 13, the city has paid out $13.9 million in police overtime, about double the amount budgeted.Other findings of the audit include the Police Department's Office of Professional Responsibility, which includes Internal Affairs, did not hold officers accountable for overtime abuses.In March, then-Commissioner Darryl De Sousa imposed a new overtime policy but then put enforcement on hold when commanders objected.The audit's recommendations include requiring all officers to appear personally at roll call at the beginning of their shifts and eliminating so-called "slash days," which are off-the-books days awarded to the Gun Trace Task Force for getting guns off the street.City officials also want to replace manual time and attendance systems with technology.In January, the Police Department's chief spokesperson told the 11 News I-Team that fingerprint technology was coming on board to record time in and out of an officers shift. But when asked Wednesday if that happened, city officials said no."I don't know of a pilot program that exists currently," Pugh said.Matt Jablow, chief of public information for Baltimore police, released a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying, "Reducing overtime costs is one of the department's top priorities. To that end, we have already begun implementing several recommendations included in the overtime audit and, working with the mayor's office, will continue that process over the next few months."The audit is part of litigation between the city and the police union that is still ongoing.

A new audit harshly criticizes the Baltimore Police Department for failing across the board to account for and control police overtime.

PDF: Read the police overtime audit

The amount of overtime spent has doubled since 2013.

The federal Gun Trace Task Force case revealed embarrassing details about the way overtime was paid without accountability. The audit is another blow to the ability of the department to manage its operations.



The new audit rips Baltimore police command for failing to ensure police overtime that gets paid is necessary and warranted.

"BPD's attendance and accountability practices do not ensure that BPD officers actually work the hours for which they are paid," said Henry Raymond, the city's finance director.

The mayor blamed abuse and officer shortages.

"Is there overtime abuse? I believe so," Mayor Catherine Pugh said. "Do we have the number of officers in the Police Department that we should? Absolutely not."

Police overtime has soared: In 2013, the BPD paid out $23 million in overtime. In 2017, the BPD paid out $47 million, the I-Team reported.

Through Oct. 13, the city has paid out $13.9 million in police overtime, about double the amount budgeted.

Other findings of the audit include the Police Department's Office of Professional Responsibility, which includes Internal Affairs, did not hold officers accountable for overtime abuses.

In March, then-Commissioner Darryl De Sousa imposed a new overtime policy but then put enforcement on hold when commanders objected.

The audit's recommendations include requiring all officers to appear personally at roll call at the beginning of their shifts and eliminating so-called "slash days," which are off-the-books days awarded to the Gun Trace Task Force for getting guns off the street.

City officials also want to replace manual time and attendance systems with technology.

In January, the Police Department's chief spokesperson told the 11 News I-Team that fingerprint technology was coming on board to record time in and out of an officers shift. But when asked Wednesday if that happened, city officials said no.



"I don't know of a pilot program that exists currently," Pugh said.

Matt Jablow, chief of public information for Baltimore police, released a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying, "Reducing overtime costs is one of the department's top priorities. To that end, we have already begun implementing several recommendations included in the overtime audit and, working with the mayor's office, will continue that process over the next few months."

The audit is part of litigation between the city and the police union that is still ongoing.

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BPD Overtime Audit squarely blames command for failing to supervise/impose accountability as required by policy that dates to 1987..officers paid for OT not properly certified, using OT slips signed by non-supervisors pic.twitter.com/cx9eizIHXH — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) October 24, 2018

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

New audit of BPD overtime finds lack of internal controls to ensure officers actually work hours they are paid and whether OT actually necessary. Overtime policies "regularly ignored" says City Finance Dir. — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) October 24, 2018

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