WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The Warner Robins Fire Department is changing its overtime policy. Monday night, Warner Robins council approved the change after a recommendation from both the Human Resources and Fire Departments.
The city says it will help make things fair between first responder departments, and hopes it will help with staffing.
Assistant Chief of Fire Administration Jason Mock says the city pay raises are helping bring in nine new hires, but they still have positions to fill.
Each shift the department tries to have around 35 people between all the stations that are ready to head to the rescue.
"We're bound to help other people all the time and it's something I like to do. It's something I enjoy," Zorean Walker said.
Walker is about a month on the job and eager to work. He would like to fill in more shifts and get more experience, now he can do that with their new overtime policy.
"We want to make sure there is no person or no department that is over what another department would do," Mayor LaRhonda Patrick shared at Monday's council meeting.
Now, overtime is considered working more than 53 hours in a 7-day period, the previous policy had overtime set for a two-week period.
"It gives more opportunity for the guys themselves to qualify for overtime which is a huge benefit," Mock said.
He says there are daily overtime opportunities.
"The overall goal is the safety of our citizens and the safety of our members and the more people on our trucks is a benefit to us all," he said.
Mock says part of the problem is they're short-staffed due to retirees.
"We're currently about 25-27 people short," he said.
Now, Walker and the rest of the team can find times to fill in, make more money, and keep up the level of service.
"For right now, I don't have a second job, so it's not like I'm doing anything major on my two days off, so why not work and use that overtime," Walker said.
Mock says even with their short staff, they have still been able to respond to calls promptly.
However, they still need more people to join their team.
"We'll teach you everything you need to know. We just need that servant heart," Mock said.
The city is still working to fill its Fire Chief position. Right now, they have an Interim Chief.
In 2023, the city paid $24,500 to a company to help them recruit talent. The company is helping the city until March.