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Tamworth Select Board backs recruiting social worker embedded in police department
Summary
Select Board members endorsed a plan to recruit a social worker to be embedded in the police department to handle mental-health and social-service calls, with staffing funded from an existing police full-time line item; board members asked staff to post a job description and begin outreach.
The Tamworth Select Board on June 24 discussed a proposal to hire a social worker embedded in the police department to respond to calls that are rooted in mental-health, substance-use or social-service needs rather than criminal conduct. The board agreed the town’s limited police staffing and local gaps in social services make the role potentially useful and directed staff to post a job description and begin recruitment using money already budgeted under the police department’s full‑time line.
The proposal was introduced by Select Board member Leanne, who said she and Chief Keith Littlefield had researched models in other New Hampshire municipalities — Dover and Concord were cited — where police social work positions reduced repeat crisis calls and freed officers for traditional law enforcement duties. Leanne told the board the social-work role is meant to provide short-term, “warm handoffs,” follow-up and navigation to health and social services.
Police Chief Keith Littlefield described on-scene examples where officers spent many hours arranging involuntary emergency admissions or coordinating follow-up care. “If we had that position, I would have done what I would consider a warm handoff,” Littlefield said, explaining a social worker could complete paperwork, make calls and work the case so an officer does not spend a day on a single incident. He said the change would allow officers to focus on investigations, traffic enforcement and other law-enforcement tasks.
Members of Tamworth Community Nurse Association and local school staff, including Donna Uhlitz (recently retired guidance counselor) and Julie Lenoy (town nurse, TCNA), supported the idea during the department-head discussion. Donna and school staff described families and children facing poverty, housing instability and unmet needs; they said a dedicated social worker could help link residents to services and provide follow-up that often does not occur after an initial police or welfare contact.
Board members clarified that this is a hiring decision for the police department and not a special-warrant item. The town’s HR officer had confirmed that the full-time police staffing line in the adopted budget can fund a non‑officer social work position, Select Board members said. The board did not create a new appropriation or adopt a formal ordinance; instead members gave verbal approval to proceed with recruitment steps. Select Board member Paul (welfare) noted the welfare office’s high demand for assistance and said the position dovetails with efforts to better coordinate services.
Next steps: the board asked Chief Littlefield and staff to finalize a job description and begin outreach. Select Board members said they want the position advertised and candidates screened promptly, with the hiring authority remaining with the police chief and town HR per existing personnel rules.
