Overtime should never be expected or counted on to survive. Overtime should only be paid out of necessity such as when a citizen is murdered and a homicide detective must work hours upon hours at the beginning to solve the case. I disagree about overtime being needed (most of the time) even when staffing is at 100%. Vacation time and mandatory training (school) can be approved and scheduled well in advance and only if staffing permits. Staffing should be such that a shift has the ability to operate