Rochester Police Commission swears in new officer, accepts three resignations and archives voluntary-weapons policy
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Summary
At a brief April meeting the Rochester Police Commission swore in Damon Glassetter as a new patrol officer, accepted resignations from three officers, voted to archive Policy 84.1.4 on voluntary weapons relinquishment citing RSA 159:25, and reviewed monthly reports noting seven vacancies and several officers on leave.
The Rochester Police Commission on April 8 swore in Damon Glassetter as its newest patrol officer, accepted three resignations, approved archiving a department policy on voluntary weapons relinquishment and reviewed monthly staffing and operations reports.
Damon Glassetter was introduced to the commission and community by an agency official, who summarized Glassetter’s background as a New Hampshire native, a 2017 Nashua South High School graduate and a former U.S. Navy military police officer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The commission administered the oath of office and performed a ceremonial pinning; Glassetter is scheduled to attend the 16-week New Hampshire Basic Police Academy.
The commission also voted to accept resignations from Officer Drew Pear, Officer Daniel Newberg and Officer Rodney Musto. The motion to accept the three resignations was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.
On policy, an agency official recommended archiving Policy 84.1.4, the department’s voluntary relinquishment-of-weapons policy, saying it conflicted with state law. The official cited RSA 159:25 and said state law requires firearms surrendered via voluntary programs to be sold at public auction with proceeds deposited in the general fund. Commissioners voted to archive the policy; speakers clarified that firearms taken under court order must be retained and that any destruction of property requires a court order and judge’s approval. The department said it generally directs voluntary surrenderers to licensed federal firearms dealers rather than taking personal property when not required.
In monthly reports staff described a reworked report format produced by the department’s new crime analyst and reported no concerning trends in the period covered. The commission heard details on training and recruiting: officers have completed or begun mental-health, ethics and de-escalation modules; two academy candidates had completed 12 weeks and were anticipated to graduate April 24; several officers are in field training. On staffing, presenters said the department has seven full-time vacancies following the three accepted resignations, four officers on administrative leave, one officer currently deployed in the military with others scheduled for deployment, and that roughly 46 of 65 full-time officers (about 71%) were expected to be operational in the near term.
Other operational items included a question about downtown two-hour parking signage and an update that signs were ordered; dispatch staffing was reported as down one position. The commission also read correspondence recognizing Specialist Zachary Seeley for radar work during a structural fire and thanked Detective Bebo, Detective Dania, Officer Marsh, Officer Dale and Officer Newberg for assistance at a traffic accident.
The commission voted to go into nonpublic session under RSA 91:8,III for personnel matters, later returned to public session and approved evaluations conducted in nonpublic. With no further business the meeting was adjourned.
The commission did not set additional public hearings or adoption dates at this meeting; the archived policy and personnel actions will be reflected in department records.
