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Hampden board presses police chief on budget, school resource officer costs
Summary
At its May 5 meeting the Town of Hampden Select Board discussed projected operating budget increases for public safety, certification requirements and overtime costs tied to the town’s school resource officer program, and upcoming equipment needs for cruisers and handguns.
The Town of Hampden Select Board discussed the police department’s operating budget, certification requirements for the school resource officer (SRO) and equipment needs at its May 5 meeting.
Board members were told the town’s operating budgets could rise about 7 to 8 percent this year, and the police chief described limits on how the department can staff the SRO role without incurring overtime. The discussion centered on whether the SRO line could be folded into patrol operations to save money and what training and contract rules prevent that.
The police chief said the SRO program requires formal certification and that “for me to send an officer during the day over there, I can't do that,” describing a POST-style certification and municipal training requirement. The chief explained the certified SRO must complete 40 hours of initial training and a subsequent in‑service component, which he said is “a 3 day in service.”
The chief told the board the town currently budgets roughly $36,000 for the SRO line, which he described as an average to cover two 4‑hour shifts a week; actual overtime pay varies depending on who fills shifts. He said if a sergeant or other high‑grade officer fills a shift the hourly cost can be much higher than if a reserve officer or other lower‑pay rate employee covers it.
Board members also pressed the chief on equipment and vehicle needs. The chief said cruisers are approaching high mileage and that the department will likely need one vehicle in the fall and another in spring, and noted the department will soon need to replace handguns. He estimated firearms replacement and cruiser purchases could be near‑term budget pressures.
The chief reported internal staffing matters including recent sergeant exams and said results and interviews would be forthcoming. He also noted information‑technology needs and the possible need for an additional position to oversee IT work for the department.
No formal motion or vote on the police budget or SRO line was taken at the meeting; the exchange was recorded as a department budget briefing and discussion to inform upcoming town budget decisions.
