Santa Fe police say overtime costs fell significantly when officers worked five days a week, a schedule that has since been reversed by the current police chief.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that records show overtime payments dropped by 15 percent.
According to records, the department shelled out $1 million in overtime in 2010.
That figure decreased to $842,000 in 2011, after former Chief Ray Rael changed officers' schedules from five to four-day work weeks. The costs have remained steady since.
Current Police Chief Eric Garcia says the shift change wasn't the only factor.
Garcia says a program that increased how much time detectives spent on burglary investigations played more of a role in the drop.
The four-day change is being implemented gradually with various units.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican.
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