Seventy-eight officers from various units of the San Jose Police Department have been assigned to patrol duty to supplement officers and reduce response time for emergency calls, a police spokesman said.
The program, known as flex car staffing, temporarily assigned officers to patrol the streets as of last Friday, police spokesman Officer Albert Morales said.
Most of the 78 officers sent to the patrol beat are from the detective bureau and others were selected from school liaison, personnel and training, administrative and other smaller units, Morales said.
"It is our hope this will help us to respond to priority 1 (emergency) calls in a timely manner," Morales said.
Each officer is to work one 10-hour day a month in a patrol car on calls for service for the next three months while still being responsible for the caseloads of their regular assignments, Morales said.
The officers are needed for the patrol beat as the department continues to experience depletions in its ranks, Morales said.
The department now has 986 sworn officers but minus those on disability and administrative leave, it is down to only 912 officers available for full-time duty, Morales said.
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The force has been suffering declines due to resignations and retirements, Morales said.
But the department is expecting a new crop of officers soon, including 38 who are now in field training with sworn officers and will be ready to join the force in February, according to Morales.
Another 53 recruits are currently enrolled in the department's policy academy, he said.
