Laconia detective resigns from prevention-enforcement program; department to redistribute duties

LACONIA, N.H. — Detective Stephen Orton, a 26-year Laconia police officer who ran the Laconia side of the prevention-enforcement-treatment program, submitted a resignation, Chief Steve Canfield told the Laconia Police Commission on Aug. 20.

Canfield said Orton previously worked in Massachusetts and had led the prevention-enforcement-treatment work for roughly three years, working in coordination with Detective Eric Adams. "At the moment, we look to, supplement his primary duties with Eric Adams covering those primary duties, and then we look to we'll look to backfill that, in the future," Canfield said.

Nut graf: The commission heard that the department will rely on internal coverage temporarily and pursue a formal backfill process later; members discussed staffing levels elsewhere in the department during the meeting.

Canfield told the commission the department will have Detective Eric Adams assume Orton's primary duties for now and then pursue a permanent replacement. The transcript does not include Orton's resignation date or his last day, nor does it identify who will be hired as a replacement.

During the meeting the chief also reported there are three current sworn vacancies in the department. One prospective hire, a certified officer from Arizona, withdrew during the background phase because he could not complete his planned move. Two other candidates remain in background checks. Canfield said two recent recruits completed the department's six-week in-house police academy and will begin field training before attending the state police academy in January.

Ending: No formal personnel motions were taken at the meeting; Canfield said the department will return to the commission with personnel actions when candidates complete background checks and the department is ready to present new hires for approval.