SANTA FE, N.M. — The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has extended its “4/8/40 Work Well Live Well” pilot program following strong results during its initial six-month run, according to a news release.
Launched in October 2024, the alternative schedule allows patrol deputies to be compensated for working four 10-hour shifts per week, with the option to use up to two hours of each shift for physical or mental wellness activities, such as counseling, weightlifting or yoga, KRQE reported.
The alternative aimed to replace traditional 12-hour shifts, which often stretched to 15 hours.
Performance data shared by the department from October 5, 2024, through April 5, 2025, showed notable improvements compared to previous years:
- Overtime hours decreased by 53%
- Deputies who opted in initiated 69% more calls for service
- Traffic stops increased by 94% among the opt-in group
- Overall traffic citations rose by 84%
- Motor vehicle crashes dropped by 20%, attributed to increased traffic enforcement
- Average deputy satisfaction scores reached 8.88 out of 10, peaking at 9.27 in March 2025
- Vacancy rates fell sharply from 24% in August 2024 to 3%
- Response times for Priority Level 1 and all service calls declined steadily
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the new schedule helped improve deputies’ work-life balance while enhancing operational efficiency. Deputies reported better rest, increased time with family and improved personal well-being.
“One of the big things that I would say is during my specific workdays, I’ve noticed that because of the time that we have off now…you’re more excited to come back to work,” Deputy Levi Abeyta said in a video released by the county. “You’re more willing to participate, more willing to go out there and be proactive…catch those bad guys and help more people and reach out to them.”
Based on the early success, Sheriff Mendoza and County Manager Gregory S. Shaffer have agreed to extend the pilot program for an additional six months. Officials will continue monitoring key metrics before making a final decision on whether to adopt the schedule permanently.
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