Rindge police or lack thereof
I am a retired member of Law Enforcement with 32 years experience. I read with utter dismay that the Rindge Police Dept would no longer be able to provide 24/7 service due to a manpower shortage. Since retiring and moving to Rindge 10 years ago, the manpower shortage has been an ongoing issue with officers using Rindge as a training ground, then moving on to better-paying/benefits departments or to the state police. It had never come to basically a shut down in police services until now.
Since moving to Rindge, the town has grown considerably with nonstop building. With an increase in population, there is an increase in needed police services. In order to attract and retain police officers, the salaries and benefits need to be increased significantly. The town selectmen, who have been entrenched for years in their respective positions, know this has been an ongoing problem, having had one chief that I know of resign due to lack of support from them a few years ago, and the constant exodus of not only junior but senior officers. Their answer was to propose a moderate wage increase that was in line with all town employees. That obviously will not do. Let’s face it, you can not compare Police work with, say, working at the transfer station and increasing wages at the same rate.
Police work is inherently more dangerous and police officers should be paid accordingly. Then and only then will we be able to retain officers with years of experience. Police officers need the public’s support, not their disdain. Remember, if you need assistance, you call the police. As it stands now, who knows if or when they will be there.