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Acton Police seek administrative lieutenant to manage body-worn camera, accreditation and dispatch changes
Summary
Police Chief James Cogan told the Select Board and Finance Committee he is requesting one administrative lieutenant FTE to oversee accreditation, the new body-worn camera program and computer/grant coordination; the department also described expanded clinical responder coverage and a dispatch staffing change required by a labor contract.
Acton Police Chief James Cogan outlined department accomplishments and a FY26 request for an administrative lieutenant to oversee the body-worn camera program, accreditation maintenance and technology and grants coordination, saying the step is needed to avoid over-burdening current command staff.
The request and context
Chief Cogan said the department's FY26 budget covers personnel costs for 46 FTEs (42 sworn officers, two clinical responders, and several civilian staff). He asked for one additional administrative lieutenant position to manage the body-worn camera program, accreditation tasks and computer systems/grant coordination, saying those programs require significant ongoing administrative time and record management.
Dispatch and clinical responders
- Dispatch: the dispatch center (9 full-time and 3 part-time dispatchers) will add one FTE effective July 1 under a revised schedule (moving to a 4-and-2 schedule from 5-and-2), which the chief said is a contract-driven scheduling change. - Clinical responders: the department reported it recently filled a second clinical responder position and intends to expand hours of crisis-response support; referrals to diversion programs and co-response numbers have increased.
Traffic enforcement and community engagements
The chief said the department handled about 28,913 incidents in 2024 (a 10% increase over 2023) and noted increased motor vehicle enforcement activity. He credited grants for funding radar signs and overtime targeted to traffic enforcement. The department also maintained community programs including Citizens Police Academy, Youth Academy, "KOMA the Cop" and other outreach.
Why it matters
An administrative lieutenant would centralize record- and program-management responsibilities (body-worn cameras, accreditation and grants) that the chief said are currently diverting lieutenants from field supervision and operational oversight. Dispatch staffing changes and expanded clinical responder coverage are intended to support 24/7 public-safety communications and mental-health response capacity.
Ending
The chief asked that the boards consider the FY26 staffing request; he said the department will continue recruitment work and will provide follow-up materials on staffing and program impacts.
