Police official urges converting part‑time spot to full‑time to retain trained officer

A police department official described staffing and retention challenges and recommended the council create a new full‑time patrol position rather than relying on the part‑time slot. The official said the department currently operates with "5 full time employees and 1 part time employee that gets 20 hours a week," and argued that converting a part‑time reserve who has about 600 hours of service into a full‑time slot would help retain trained personnel.

He warned of upcoming retirements among long‑tenured officers in 2027 and said the proposed change would let the town hire a certified reserve before other agencies recruit them. The council discussed moving budget lines to eliminate the 'general part‑time patrolman' item and create a new patrolman account (610‑0251) to reflect that change.