Police outline budget increase for cameras, records review and continued K9 program; stipend for handler split selectmen
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Summary
Greenland police briefed the board on ride‑along increases in arrests and incident video workloads, the new body‑worn camera program and the need for a sworn reviewer; leaders also requested a stipend for the handler of therapy dog 'Willow', prompting a divided vote.
The Greenland Police Department told the select board that recent increases in arrests and incident volume have driven new recurring costs and operational tasks, particularly after the department deployed body‑worn cameras.
The police chief said the cloud‑hosted camera system includes storage, smart redaction tools and tagging/retention logic; however, it creates a steady review workload because footage must be examined and redacted for privacy before release or prosecutor discovery. The chief proposed hiring a part‑time sworn reviewer (retired officer preferred) to watch and redact footage, an estimate of roughly 800 hours/year and approximately $26,000 in salary — the department said that work requires sworn judgment about tactics, use‑of‑force and redaction needs.
The chief also described a revolving 'detail' fund that pays for cruisers and detail operations; details offset capital fleet purchases but fluctuate with officer participation.
Separately, the long‑running K9 therapy program featuring “Willow” was discussed. The chief and supporters detailed Willow’s use for incident stress response, school visits and community outreach. The chief requested a stipend for the primary handler; selectmen debated a $6,100 stipend and broader priorities. The budget motion for the police overall passed, but several members registered reservations about the K9 stipend and broader staffing tradeoffs.
What’s next: The board approved the police budget for public hearing with recorded votes; the chief was asked to provide the department’s implementation plan and an itemized estimate for the camera reviewer position and recurring storage and redaction costs.