Chesterfield board approves $35,000 certified-officer sign-on bonus to bolster staffing

Chief Rouse told the Board of Selectmen that department staffing stood at two officers and that a part-time officer who had been helping would be leaving, creating an immediate need to improve recruitment incentives. “The sign on bonus for certified officers would be $35,000,” he said, proposing the amount be paid over five years: $10,000 in year one and $6,250 in years two through five.

Board members pressed only briefly on salary range and recruitment pool; Roscoe asked whether the town’s salary schedule was competitive and Chief Rouse described hiring certified officers as a “bidding war.” The board voted to back the proposal: Brad Roscoe moved to increase the certified officer bonus to $35,000, the motion was seconded by Mary Ewell, and it passed unanimously.

The chief also noted a separate equipment grant: a JI grant to outfit cruisers that he said will cost about $65,000 and that the state will pay. The board described Chesterfield as the first town to participate in that outfitting program during this rollout.

Next steps: the board approved the bonus structure and indicated staff will return with any required budget adjustments or updated step schedules to keep overall pay competitive.