Weare police chief outlines 287(g) participation; board approves translation software and CJIS‑compliant AI subscription

Police Chief Moore briefed the Weare Select Board on July 13 about the department’s participation in a federal immigration-enforcement MOA and asked for board authorization to accept and spend restricted stipends and purchase related technology. "Since signing the memorandum of agreement on June 2, we've taken 6 criminal aliens into custody," Chief Moore said, describing arrests the department made following traffic stops.

Chief Moore said participation in the program brings training, equipment stipends and other restricted funding. He told the board the MOA provides $7,500 per certified task-force officer and a $100,000 vehicle-equipment stipend; when asked about totals he said $182,500 is listed in the MOA and additional stipends may be available but are controlled by ICE. The chief said the MOA term is commonly two years from signature but funding and program details may continue beyond that period.

Public concern and statutory authority: a public commenter alleged the select board had "signed on to ICE," but board members clarified and the chief explained recent state legislation allows police chiefs to decide participation: "We did not sign on to ICE. This decision is solely the police chiefs," a board member said during public comment. Chief Moore described the program as limited to criminal investigations and said officers will follow reasonable-suspicion and probable-cause thresholds before asking for identification or contacting ICE.

Technology purchases and votes: Chief Moore requested two purchases tied to operations and officer safety. The first was a language-translation software upgrade for existing Axon body-worn cameras; the vendor listed a five-year package at roughly $24,009, or a one-year option at about $4,983.97. After discussion the board approved a motion "to spend up to $5,068.44 coming from departmental/DIAM funds" to add the translation feature. The second was a subscription to Blue Voice, a CJIS‑compliant law‑enforcement AI product the chief described as a secure research-and-guidance tool; the board approved $7,500 to cover the subscription through Dec. 31, 2027 (vote recorded 4 yes, 1 abstention).

Board members questioned operational and legal safeguards for AI. A member asked whether reliance on AI-generated citations or suggested charges could be used by defense attorneys to challenge cases; the chief said Blue Voice is closed-source, CJIS-compliant, and that officers will still certify and sign their official narratives. The chief also said the department will add a disclosure that reports or narratives "have been edited with AI" where relevant.

Financial controls: Chief Moore said he plans to propose a special revenue fund during the next budget season to track restricted funds and that expenditures under a de minimis threshold (roughly $2,500 per his description of finance rules) can be authorized administratively, while larger purchases will come to the board for approval. He also said he will report account balances and track restricted expenditures in the department’s annual report.

Votes at a glance: translation software (Axon language upgrade) — motion approved (up to $5,068.44, funding: departmental/DIAM funds, motion moved and seconded); Blue Voice AI subscription — approved $7,500 (approved 4–0–1, funding: departmental/ICE-restricted funds anticipated). Chief Moore said he will verify fund availability and training completion before signing contracts.

Next steps: the chief will confirm funding and training prerequisites before executing contracts and will continue to provide public updates on the restricted account balances in the department’s reporting to the board.