How is court time viewed by police departments? Is it just time they use during their shifts? Overtime?
For example, would a 8 to 5 crime tech just drop by the courthouse when needed to testify? Just another duty during the busy work day. Or is court time specially scheduled?
Cops patrolling. Do they just go by the courthouse to testify? Or is it special overtime?
Somehow, I don’t think they use their own free time to testify. 
Yes, they’re paid when they appear in court if it’s related to their job. Testifying is just considered another job duty. Normally, they would be scheduled to testify during their regular work hours so there wouldn’t be any overtime. But if for some reason, they did testify when they would normally be off-duty, they’d get paid overtime.
Thanks Little Nemo.
One rumoured perk of being traffic police is a lot of overtime to show up in court if the ticket is contested. Most unionized jobs, one 'call-out" after hours is minimum 4 hours.
In all the NE Ohio courts in which I’ve practiced, police are “on the clock” when they testify if it’s a day that they would’ve been on duty anyway. But sometimes they have to go to court on their days off, and for that they get OT. OT has been an issue in the Cleveland Police Dept. from time to time, with city bean-counters now and then complaining that police are making waaaaay too much money that way.
To expand on that, the “conventional wisdom” is that, if issued a speeding ticket by a LEO during the hours when a courthouse would be closed (especially late at night), you should contest it since there is a good possibility that he/she may not show up to argue their side (I’m not sure if that is the LEO’s decision or someone higher up). Never tried it though.
If it were that easy no one would have to pay their fines. In our court they are not allowed to subpoena us on a first appearance. So if you come in and say you want a trial they reschedule you for another court date. Saves the town money, makes you waste at least two days fighting the ticket.
Same with our court. Officers are not expected to appear for your arraignment (when the charge(s) against you are read, and your rights are explained to you). If you want to contest the ticket, you enter a not guilty plea at that time, a judge is randomly assigned to your case, you’re given a new court date, and must return before the judge. The officer is then subpoenaed by the prosecutor for that and any subsequent court dates.