By Corrections1 Staff
HONOLULU — A third of Hawaii corrections officers assigned to work on Super Bowl Sunday called in sick.
Hawaii News Now reports that the Hawaii Department of Safety released the number Wednesday detailing how many COs called in sick on the day of the Super Bowl. The DPS said of the 733 officer assigned to work that day, 213 called in sick, which equates to about 34 percent of staff out during the big game.
“Everyone always asks how we are working towards the use of less leave on major holidays and event weekends,” DPS Spokesperson Toni Schwartz said. “All state employees are entitled to use earned leave. Curbing excessive leave use is a constant battle for all state agencies.”
The number of officers who called in sick this years was lower in years past. In 2017, 260 called in sick, and in 2016, 230 were out.
The department said staffing was still adequate and that no visitations were cancelled.