Managing patrol coverage, court obligations, and large-scale events across a workforce of 600 required a system that could scale. With InTime, Anaheim Police Department centralized workforce scheduling, cut scheduling effort by 96.87%, eliminated overtime tied to cancelled subpoenas, and returned hundreds of hours each year to operational and patrol activities.
The Pain Points That Demanded Change
Before InTime, Anaheim PD relied heavily on Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, paper memos, and manual processes to manage scheduling, overtime, court subpoenas, and special events.
How replacing patrol scheduling spreadsheets reduced scheduling time by 97%
The department began using InTime in 2006 through the ILJ group across Orange County police agencies, replacing spreadsheets for patrol scheduling. Over the years, InTime’s role expanded gradually until the department rolled it out across all divisions.
Phase 1: Automating patrol scheduling
Anaheim PD first adopted InTime to replace patrol scheduling spreadsheets with a centralized, automated system.
Key capabilities introduced:
- Digital patrol schedules
- Centralized availability tracking
- Minimum staffing visibility
- Automated overtime identification
Operational impact for supervisors and managers
Patrol scheduling time was reduced from approximately eight hours per cycle to fifteen minutes, resulting in a 96.87 percent reduction in annual supervisor time spent on scheduling. Scheduling accuracy improved on the first pass, leading to less rework and fewer corrections.
Impact for the department
Mobile access to schedules eliminated unnecessary office visits, reduced administrative interruptions, and improved shift awareness. As a result, Anaheim PD returned an estimated 32.25 percent of staff time to patrol and operational duties, increasing frontline presence without adding personnel while improving scheduling consistency and visibility.
“If an officer was on vacation for a weekend and they cannot be scheduled for an event, they would have to send in a memo via email to a secretary and three other people and hope the spreadsheet was updated a timely manner.”
– Detective Sergeant
Phase 2: Extending beyond patrol — court & subpoenas
Eliminating Unnecessary Overtime
Automated court & subpoena management: Notifications are sent digitally (mobile, web, email), including on days off; confirmations automatically update schedules; cancellations are processed immediately, eliminating manual follow-ups and unnecessary overtime.
Key capabilities introduced:
- Officers receive automatic notifications via app, email, or web
- Subpoenas drop directly into their schedules, even on days off.
- Officers can click for details (court location, time, case description).
- Cancelled subpoenas automatically notify officers, eliminating unnecessary overtime.
Operational Impact
- Overtime related to cancelled subpoenas was effectively eliminated, saving an estimated ~$81,000 annually.
- Officers could plan their personal time more reliably
- Court staffing accuracy increased
Phase 3: Overtime management with fatigue enforcement
Anaheim PD enforces a 16-hour maximum workday for officer safety, but compliance was previously manual and high-risk.
Key capabilities introduced:
- The department configured fatigue and eligibility rules directly into InTime:
- Officers exceeding limits are not recommended
- The system identifies the most compliant, qualified officer
- Supervisors make faster, safer decisions
Operational Impact
- Officers can only be scheduled when they comply with the 16-hour maximum workday rule.
- The system recommends only eligible officers based on availability and fatigue compliance.
Phase 4: Scaling Event Staffing Across the City
Anaheim PD expanded its use of InTime to automate and centralize staffing for large scale city events.
Key capabilities introduced:
- Centralized event scheduling
- Automated availability verification
- Rule based eligibility filtering
- Instant digital notifications and confirmations
Operational impact for supervisors and managers
Event staffing time was reduced from days to minutes by eliminating manual coordination and spreadsheet based tracking. Supervisors could quickly identify eligible officers, assign shifts, and confirm coverage digitally, significantly reducing errors and missed assignments.
Impact for the department
Large events such as Disneyland operations, stadium events, and citywide conventions were staffed faster and more reliably. Officers received real time notifications with full assignment details, improving clarity, accountability, and operational readiness.
“If an officer was already working a 10-hour day and we wanted to schedule them for a job, it won’t recommend them for that assignment. It will only recommend those that are within that fatigue rule and our policy.”
– Detective Sergeant
"We saved days of work because it’s quickly and easily able to give us names qualified to work that event and with a mouse click, they’re scheduled, they receive a notification, and they show up to that event.”
– Detective Sergeant
Conclusion
Anaheim Police Department’s results show what’s possible when workforce scheduling moves beyond spreadsheets. With InTime, the department cut scheduling effort by 96.87%, eliminated unnecessary overtime, and returned more than 32% of staff time to patrol and operations, all while improving compliance and visibility.
Agencies are facing growing staffing demands without growing headcount, InTime delivers immediate, measurable impact where it matters most: time, community safety, and frontline presence.
