HOOVER, ALA. — The Hoover Police Department has officially moved to 12-hour shifts effective July 14, 2026. The shift change aims to improve officer wellness and support better work-life balance across the department.

Under the new schedule, every patrol officer will have every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. This represents a change from the previous 8-hour system, under which weekend days off were awarded based on seniority. Newer officers previously had to request time off specifically to secure a full weekend free, often with limited success.

Department leaders hope that allowing officers more predictable time to spend with family and friends will create better work-life balance. They also believe the new schedule will attract new officers to the force. The Hoover Police Department is currently at 96% staffing, and officials hope the remaining positions can be filled by officers drawn to the new system.

Captain Daniel Lowe said the department undertook a comprehensive review of its operations before implementing the change. "As we’ve been looking at the future of what the Hoover Police Department needs to look like, we were examining really everything that we’re doing," he said. Lowe emphasized the dual priority of public service and officer welfare, stating, "We’re always looking at how can we best serve the public and how can we best take care of our officers."

He also sought to reassure the public that service standards would not decline. "We’re wanting to provide the best level of service that we possibly can," Lowe said. "The standard that we’ve always provided will remain the same."