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Wolfeboro police report shows year‑end drop in arrests; department outlines building move, drone training and budget timeline
Summary
Officers reported fewer arrests for 2024 than 2023 and higher traffic stops in December; the chief updated the commission on a multi‑phase station renovation, a grant‑funded drone program and upcoming warrant and bond hearings.
The Wolfeboro Police Commission received month and year‑end statistics and departmental operational updates at a public meeting (date not specified).
Gavin, the staff member who presented incident data, reported that December 2024 saw 39 incident cases and 3 arrests (down from six in November). He said traffic stops rose to 74 in December with 14 tickets issued and collisions fell to six (from eight the prior month). For the full year, Gavin reported 596 incidents in 2024 compared with 626 in 2023; arrests totaled 159 in 2024 versus 261 in 2023. Citations/stops for the year were 1,093 in 2024 compared with 2,051 in 2023; parking tickets were 285 for 2024 compared with 279 in 2023.
Police Chief Sean Coop updated the commission on operations and facilities. He said the department is in "phase 2 out of 3 phases" of a building project and that staff and equipment are being staged in a temporary space in the old Bridal section of the building while the front of the station is gutted and renovated. Coop also reported ongoing union negotiations and that the department has issued two conditional offers of employment; two recent hires have completed field training and another is expected to be on their own in about three weeks. The chief noted a drone purchased with grant money is in training: "That training continues with 4 individuals, 2 from the police side, 2 from the fire side," and additional communications staff will be trained afterward.
Budget and warrant timing were addressed by the selectmen's representative, Paul, who said there are 25 warrant articles headed to the deliberative session and that bond hearings on borrowing above $100,000 would follow. Paul urged public participation: "The deliberative session where you all get to come into this room and tell us whether you think we're nuts, or whether you like what we're doing, is on February 4th. And I encourage people to come ... and then you ultimately vote on March 11th." The chief and budget committee liaison Tom Bell described the department's budget work with the budget committee and noted end‑of‑year encumbrances and revenue reconciliation required by the state.
Other operational details: the department reported fuel use of 447 gallons in December at an average price of $2.46 per gallon and a total fuel cost for the month of $10,994. The chief said prosecutors reported 11 cases and five parking cases that produced $4,135 in fines (fines go to the state unless parking tickets were processed through the town clerk). The commission also announced its next meeting for Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall.
Why it matters: The year‑over‑year drop in arrests and continued staffing activity, combined with the renovation and equipment investments, affect the department's capacity and service delivery. The budget and warrant schedule sets the town's near‑term fiscal decisions.
The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed by voice vote.
