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Weare police brief board on joining federal 287(g) program; chief says training will bring one-time funding
Summary
The police chief told the select board the department is pursuing a federal 287(g) agreement that requires training, offers a one-time payment and quarterly stipends, and would result in some reimbursed overtime and equipment support; the board asked for details on fund accounting and community impacts.
Weare’s police chief briefed the select board on June 8 about entering a federal 287(g) program with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, describing training, funding mechanics and oversight.
The chief said the program requires officers to complete training (40 hours) and the department must make one in-jurisdiction arrest after training for certification. The chief also described a one-time payment tied to the certification process (the contract language referenced an initial payment and stipends) and quarterly stipends thereafter, and said program receipts must be placed into an appropriate capital-reserve or special-revenue fund to be spent on police equipment, vehicles and related capital needs. The chief told the board that legal coverage for civil actions and federal workers’ compensation for program incidents are part of the federal offering.
Board members asked about operational impacts, certification timeline, and how program funds would be moved into a dedicated account and then spent consistent with town procurement rules and voter-authorized funds. The chief said monies would be placed initially in a police capital reserve and that he would propose a named special-revenue fund next budget cycle for clearer accounting and voter approval where required.
Public commenters raised concerns about civil rights and the town’s policy posture; the chief said New Hampshire statute (RSA 106-p:1) prevents municipalities from blocking law-enforcement participation in 287(g). The board asked for follow-up reports that detail contract language, the schedule for training and certification, and proposed fund structure before accepting program receipts.
