The Rindge Police Department has been awarded a $125,000 federal grant that could be used to hire an eighth full-time officer.
The Select Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the town office to receive public testimony on the acceptance of the grant. Police Chief Todd Muilenberg said the position is critical to fill.
“We are extremely shorthanded right now, so an additional officer would help in a number of areas,” said Muilenberg, who added traffic enforcement, handling citizen complaints, response times, and investigations are some of the areas that could be helped with another officer.
Rindge was one of four towns in New Hampshire and one of 184 towns and cities nationwide to receive funding through the US Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program out of a total of 1,181 requests.
Per grant requirements, the $125,000 would go toward funding a full-time officer’s salary for three years, with the town having to pay for the entire salary in the fourth year. Afterthe fourth year, the town can decide whether to cut the position.
Muilenberg said the town would have to pay $103,576 in the first three years, as the grant does not cover the full salary of the officer, but it is a more cost effective approach than bringing back the position at full cost to the town.
“I have been working with the Board of Selectmen, the Town Administrator, and our Finance Director, to find cost effective options to fund the potential hiring of additional officers that we desperately need,” said Muilenberg, who said the department lost funding for an eighth officer about three years ago.
“This is a great opportunity for us and I am optimistic that we will be moving forward to accept the award.”
Statistically speaking, Rindge has less full-time police coverage than the neighboring departments of Jaffrey and Peterborough when comparing full-time officers to number of residents.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235, or at nhandy@ledgertranscript.com.