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Laconia Police Commission hears two recent resignations; department describes recruitment plans
Summary
The Laconia Police Department reported two recent resignations and outlined recruitment and in‑house training plans, saying multiple applicants have been interviewed and two candidates are scheduled to begin the department's in‑house academy in July.
The Laconia Police Commission on an administrative agenda item was told the department received two resignations and is moving forward with recruitment and an in‑house training program.
Chief Canfield reported that Officer Bennett Morrill, who had not yet attended the police academy, resigned after deciding policing “was not for him,” and Animal Control Officer Megan Abbott also resigned to return to a prior job. The department said it has conducted more than 30 interviews for the animal control opening and is making final selections.
The personnel update matters because they affect patrol staffing and the department's training pipeline. Chief Canfield said the department is running an in‑house six‑week training program that requires scheduling instructors and coordinating curriculum, and that two candidates are scheduled to start the in‑house program on July 7.
On vacancies, Chief Canfield described the department's current counts: the department “had 5, we’ll be hiring 2, so I’ll leave 3 open,” and added that a third candidate’s start is delayed by a house sale in Arizona; if that candidate cannot start as planned the department would be down by two positions. Those remarks were presented as operational updates rather than formal personnel actions; no promotion or appointment vote was recorded at the meeting.
The department did not provide exact hire dates beyond the July 7 in‑house start for the two candidates, nor did it name the applicants who will fill the vacancies.
Commissioners did not take a formal vote on hiring during the public portion of the meeting. The minutes of prior meetings were approved by motion elsewhere on the agenda.
