The fire department change of shift policy is being manipulated according to a pair of local tax hawks, but the union president insists their claims are wrong.
"Change of shifts" allow firefighters to swap their hours with another firefighter, with no cost to the city since both shifts are covered.
Warwick business owner Ken Block and frequent fire department critic Rob Cote claim computer analysis of 11 months of department "accountability sheets" indicates several firefighters took time off with the change of shift policy, but did not cover the other firefighters' shifts.
Block said he could only speculate what would be in it for the firefighter who worked both his colleague's shift and his own.
"It looks like it's seriously abused," Block said.