DIXFIELD – Police Chief Richard Pickett said Tuesday that two officers are interested in applying for the newly created position of sergeant.
The slot was included in the Dixfield Police Department budget approved at town meeting earlier this month.
The four-person department currently consists of Chief Richard Pickett and Patrolmen Mark Dow, Jeff Howe and Eric Bernier.
Howe has been with the department for nearly seven years, Dow for almost six years, and Bernier for about a year.
The position will be posted after July 1, with a target date of August for filling it.
The additional cost is estimated at between $3,000 and $3,500 annually because the job will be a promotion of an officer in the department, Pickett said.
“The sergeant will do some of the administrative work along with his other duties. This will allow me to have more time for patrolling,” he said, adding that whether a department is staffed by four people or 25, the same paperwork, reports and training must take place.
The Police Department budget rose to $202,897 for 2006-2007, up from $186,299 for the previous year. Costs for the newly created position, as well as for salary increases and training accounted for the hike, Pickett said.
The department provides 24-hour police coverage, with no more than one person on at a time except for special events such as safety belt checks.
When the chief is on vacation or out for some reason, the sergeant will assume responsibility for the department, Pickett said, adding that other small departments in the area also have sergeant positions.
“It’s good policy to have someone else in charge. If something really drastic happens, then the sergeant can get ahold of me,” said Pickett.
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