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The Columbus Division of Police is moving to limit certain overtime by officers, an internal email obtained by the Dispatch signals.

Assistant Chief Greg Bodker told staff in a Nov. 12 email that effective immediately, all "second day off" overtime must be approved, at minimum, by an assistant chief. A second email from a Columbus police lieutenant directed staff to cancel any such overtime immediately.

Columbus police have not responded to questions from the Dispatch about the change, including whether it is permanent and whether it applies to all staff members.

Glenn McEntyre, spokesman for the City of Columbus, said police officers typically have two days off weekly. If they choose to work their first day off, they're paid 1 1/2 times their salary. If they work the second day, they receive double pay.

McEntyre said the city doesn't know how much money the change will save.

Columbus police policy already requires officers to clear overtime with a supervisor. The change means more oversight for shifts where officers receive double pay.

"This is simply being fiscally responsible and managing double-time pay," McEntyre said in an email.

The policy change doesn't impact special duty assignments where officers work as contracted security for a business or organization, McEntyre added.

A program to increase police presence at parks and special events that offers double pay for overtime will continue, McEntyre said. Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther extended "Operation Moonlight," originally a summer program, through the end of the year in September.

Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital Lodge No. 9, said the overtime from these "second-day" shifts isn't a significant source of income for most officers, and overtime isn't guaranteed.

"Like any overtime, there's some guys that work a lot, and there's some guys that don't work any of it," Steel said.

Morale will be a larger concern for the department, Steel said. The move could limit which officers can work a shift, forcing the department to call in officers who do not want to give up their days off. Steel said that could contribute to burnout.

"I always say, if you call the police, do you want a guy who's mandated to be here, who came in on his off day, or the guy who volunteered?" Steel said.

Steel said paying officers double isn't ideal, but it's necessary because the department is short on staff.

The change came on the same day Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced a $1.23 billion 2025 general fund budget. Ginther's budget calls for $774 million for the Department of Public Safety, which includes the city fire and police divisions. That figure is a 3% increase from 2024.

As part of the budget, Ginther called for funding for three new police recruit classes to bring 180 new officers to the department.

That addition would bring the department to 2,117 officers, higher than the 1,980 officers in the previous year's budget. But even with that change, the department will remain comparatively understaffed.

The department would have about 2.3 officers for every 1,000 residents -- still lower than Cleveland and Cincinnati, where officials also lament staffing problems. Cleveland and Cincinnati each have about three officers for every 1,000 residents.