WILTON – Police officer Richard Caton IV has been promoted to lieutenant/detective.

Police Chief Dennis Brown told selectmen Wednesday that Caton was his choice for the position, which is second in command of the department. Caton was also chosen, Brown said, by a group of Wilton residents as the man for the job.

Brown wanted the board’s endorsement of the promotion, stating that since Caton started with the department in early June, he has earned the respect of his co-workers and has helped with training of some of the seven personnel hired this year.

The position, accepted at the June town meeting, will provide supervisory coverage at night and provide a detective to do more investigative work.

Caton is a Wilton resident and an experienced officer who formerly worked for Jay.

He will be promoted as of Nov. 15 when he comes off the starting probationary period and will cover his assigned shift until another officer can be hired, Brown said. He hoped that would take place by the end of the year.

Brown also commended officer Josh King before the board for solving a recent four-car burglary case. Most items were returned to the owners, Brown told the board.

In other business, Fire Department Assistant Chief Thomas Doak brought a proposal before the board that would replace the squad truck with a vehicle formerly used by Gorham Fire Department.

The department has realized that the squad truck does not meet standards for emergency vehicles for the past couple years but continued to use the vehicle, Doak said, while the department worked on “more pressing vehicle problems.”

The squad truck is too light for the job it’s trying to do, he said, and doesn’t have the standard electrical power needed. A plate has been found on the vehicle that states it shouldn’t be used as an emergency vehicle, he said.

The new vehicle would be used for emergency equipment and personnel, to carry air packs, provide a cool/warm, safe and dry place for firefighters during a fire or for medical checks of the firefighters.

Doak also brought up the town’s possible liability in case of an accident with the present squad truck.

“It’s a catastrophe waiting to happen,” state Rep. Tom Saviello told the board as he mentioned the need to replace the squad truck was brought up in reports a couple years ago.

The department’s concern over the vehicle should have resulted in it being budgeted for, Selectman Terry Brann said.

While selectmen agreed that the need was there and the Gorham vehicle at $15,000 appeared to be a good buy, how to finance the purchase caused concern.

While Doak acknowledged that the department seemed “to keep popping up here with something yet again,” Chairman Paul Gooch said he first thought, “here we go again.” But, knowing the squad truck is bad, it would have been irresponsible, he said, for the department to not have brought it to the board.

“I’d be in favor if we can find a way to finance it,” Gooch said.

The board asked Doak if he would be willing to put a plan together on how the truck could be paid for and present it at the next meeting.