Police Shift-Change - Change it

Read today's article by Cal Skinner on http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ about the girl whose vehicle hit a house on Village Road in Crystal Lake at shift-change time for the Crystal Lake Police Department.

The homeowner called the police, but no officers were available because it was "shift change." That's the time when officers completing their shifts head back to the station, gas up their cars, finish their reports, get chewed out, warm up and go home. And the time when the officers going on duty hear from the shift commander about the importance of catching drunks and making arrests and writing their reports correctly and not using up too much gas, and who then go out to the patrol cars, warm them up, test the sirens and emergency lights, and leave the parking lot.

So the homeowner, upon learning no officer was available, took matters into his own hands, chased down the culprit and told her to return to the "scene of the crime", which she did. And, after that, the Crystal Lake police showed up.

It's time for police chiefs in this area, and nationwide, to figure out a way to keep some officers on the street. Shift-change times could be staggered. Other steps could be taken so that all officers are not off the street at the same time. They get paid the big bucks to figure out manpower needs and how to do this. The public should insist on protection during shift change.

Several times I have experienced this in the jurisdiction of the Woodstock Police Department. Now I don't even bother to call, if it's 4:00PM, 12:00AM, or 8:00AM.

Have you ever needed a police officer and been told there would be a delay because it was shift change? If so, how about posting a comment with your experience? How did it turn out?