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Temple‑Greenville board weighs appointment as police chief after McTague retires
Summary
After Chief McTague notified the Temple‑Greenville Joint Police Board he will retire May 1, 2026, the board discussed naming Sergeant Michael Needham as interim or permanent chief and raised staffing, overnight coverage and patrol-visibility concerns; the board will reconvene to decide.
The Temple‑Greenville Joint Police Board discussed succession planning after Chief McTague submitted formal notice that his last day will be May 1, 2026, and considered appointing TGPD Sergeant Michael Needham to lead the department.
George Willard, a Temple representative, advocated appointing Sergeant Michael Needham as chief effective May 1. Greenville representative Charles Buttrick said he preferred naming Needham an interim chief while the board considered specific changes or revised expectations for department leadership.
Greenville Town Administrator Tara Sousa recommended the board consider offering a fixed‑term employment contract for the chief of police, noting that fixed‑term contracts are common practice in many New Hampshire towns. The suggestion was offered as a way to clarify duties, expectations and performance terms while the board evaluates longer‑term arrangements.
Board members and the sergeant discussed staffing and coverage challenges. Buttrick raised a desire for on‑call coverage during overnight or otherwise unstaffed times and recounted an incident in which responding State Police expected law‑enforcement actions beyond the accident‑scene duties of arriving fire personnel. Sergeant Michael Needham said providing 24‑hour coverage with the current staffing level is a challenge and stated he does not intend to relocate to Temple or Greenville. Greenville representative Kathleen McNamara said she would like a more visible patrol presence throughout town.
The board thanked Sergeant Needham for his years of service and for his willingness to assist through Chief McTague’s retirement. The board did not take a formal vote and agreed to reconvene at a future meeting to take action on an appointment. The meeting began at 5:00 p.m. at Greenville Town Hall and adjourned at 5:29 p.m.
