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Police chief warns current budget leaves department short-staffed; says he "can't do this next year"
Summary
Police Chief said the department is operating below recommended staffing, relying on overtime and part-time hires; he warned he can make this year's budget 'work' but cannot sustain it without additional positions or funding next year.
Police Chief (identified in the transcript as Chief Bennett) told the Select Board and Advisory Committee that the police department's FY2026 request starts below last year's funding but that the department is already stretched thin and relying on overtime and part-time coverage to fill shifts.
The chief said several officers work extended hours because the department lacks sufficient full-time staff and that legal and safety standards limit extended part-time coverage; he described broader recruitment challenges for law enforcement…
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