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Candia police and fire chiefs report staffing, equipment updates and community programs
Summary
Police and fire leaders told the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 14 that staffing levels are affecting call volumes, a new cruiser and kennel are arriving, mutual aid remains active, and the department will host Toys for Tots collection events this winter.
Police and fire leaders updated the Candia Board of Selectmen on departmental activity and community programs during the Oct. 14 meeting.
The Police Chief reported a drop in incidents compared with the same point in 2023 and attributed the change primarily to staffing and mutual-aid coverage from state and neighboring agencies. The chief said one new cruiser has been registered and is awaiting equipment, with vendor lead times that could push completion into February; the vendor, Global, agreed to replace defective unit stickers at no cost. The chief also said the department has installed a kennel and finalized an arrangement with the SPCA to board animals for 10 days before they are placed for adoption.
On the Fire Department update, officials reported 34 EMS calls and 15 fire calls — 49 total — in the last month and noted an average response time of 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Mutual-aid statistics were described as favorable. The board reviewed chief recommendations including ongoing recruitment efforts.
Both departments described community-facing efforts: the Police Department will host Toys for Tots drop boxes starting Nov. 1 and is planning a Dec. 7 collection event at the park, and the departments are posting mission, vision and core values for staff access.
The board asked staff to provide follow-up materials, including equipment timelines and any written reports the chiefs referenced. The departments did not request formal votes at the meeting; the reports were received for the record.
