Laconia Police Commission reviews resignations and hiring plan aimed at restoring 45 sworn officers

The Laconia Police Commission reviewed recent personnel changes and a hiring plan intended to restore the department to full sworn strength.

Commission Chair Widom opened the meeting with routine business before Chief Canfield summarized personnel changes. "We did receive a letter of resignation from, officer Bennett Morrow, who is new to the training program," a staff report said. The report also recorded the resignation of the city’s animal control officer.

The commission received an attrition summary for 02/2024 showing three sworn positions left and no civilian resignations. Chief Canfield said the department currently has five background investigations underway for prospective hires and, if those backgrounds are successful, the new officers are planned to start the Monday after the July 4 weekend. "That will bring us up to full strength at 45 sworn officers," Canfield said.

Canfield and other presenters described the onboarding sequence: new hires would complete an in‑house training academy, enter the field training program, and then, if scheduled, attend the New Hampshire Police Academy in the fall. The chief also said several additional positions are grant funded but remain unfilled.

During the meeting the commission accepted minutes from the previous meeting by voice vote. Later in the session commissioners voted to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A:3 II(a) to discuss dismissal or discipline of a public employee.

The commission did not adopt other personnel actions publicly during the meeting; several departures were reported by letter and the hiring plan remains contingent on successful background checks and academy enrollment.