What is the maximum number of hours a deputy may work in a 24-hour period?

• A. 8 hours
• B. 12 hours
• C. 16 hours
• D. 20 hours

Answer: (C)

Fatigue management is the guiding idea here. Limiting how long a deputy can actively work in a 24-hour period helps ensure alertness, good judgment, and safety for both the deputy and the public. In this policy, the cap is 16 hours within a single day. That means one deputy can work up to 16 hours, but any additional coverage for that day has to be handled by another deputy (or through approved overtime), not by extending the same deputy’s shift beyond 16 hours. Shorter shifts exist for regular operations, but they don’t represent the maximum allowed—longer hours (like 20) would exceed the safety limit and aren’t permitted. So, 16 hours is the maximum.