‘Obviously a people power issue’: San Jose spent $58M on police overtime last year

Scores of San Jose police are making six-figures from overtime pay due to a shortage of sworn officers, and it’s straining the city’s tight budget.

The city paid out $58 million in overtime to San Jose Police Department officers last fiscal year, according to City Auditor Joe Rois — a 19 percent spike compared to the $47 million in the city’s 2021 audit. Since 2009, police overtime spending has increased by more than 300 percent, and the city is trying to get it under control with a budget deficit looming.