Police priorities matter
In his April 30 letter, Terence McQuaid raises a concern about Rindge police staffing. No one wants delayed emergency response, and most residents value professional, experienced officers who are committed to the town.
But Rindge taxpayers are under real pressure. The answer cannot be more money every time a department has a staffing problem. Any increase must be weighed against what residents can afford.
The salary issue deserves balance. Before recent adjustments, Rindge police pay was below comparable averages. That needed to be addressed. But after the adjustment, Rindge is closer to average, at least at the entry level. Rindge is not the highest-paying department in the area, but it shows the town has not ignored the issue.
There is also a management question: are sworn officers being used where that authority is truly needed? Recent police logs include matters involving ordinance complaints, animal issues, parking concerns, civil disputes, and other lower-priority calls. Some of those matters will always require police involvement, but others may be better handled through another town process. Rindge has budgeted for a code enforcement officer, and filling that role may help keep sworn police officers focused on matters that truly require police authority.
According to the department’s own community survey results, residents repeatedly identified traffic-related concerns, including speeding, along with quality-of-life issues such as burnouts, vandalism, and similar neighborhood problems. Police time should be focused first on emergency response, criminal matters, traffic safety, and the recurring public-safety concerns residents identified in that survey.
It is also fair to ask whether repeated public postings about the lack of 24/7 coverage help solve the problem or undermine public confidence.
This is not about being anti-police. It is about being realistic. Rindge should support its officers, but it also has to protect taxpayers.