BARNSTEAD - The town is considering replacing its six-member police department with contracted police service through the Belknap County Sheriff's Department, which could save the town more than $100,000 a year, town officials said.
Besides saving the town money, Selectman Robert Laroche said the town needs to make a change to its law enforcement system because of the high turnover of officers.
Barnstead's police salaries are lower than those of other communities and advancement opportunities are limited, it was noted.
"We've been having trouble retaining our officers because we are a small town and we have a small town police department," Laroche said.
The town contacted Belknap County Sheriff Craig Wiggin about staffing options, and Wiggin presented the town with a proposal that would make the town's four full-time officers employees of the county sheriff.
Police Chief Ken Borgia would become the town's police supervisor, Laroche said, and the officers would become sheriff deputies.
Under the plan, Borgia's salary would decrease slightly, but as deputy sheriffs, the officers' salaries would increase, as would their opportunities for advancement within county law enforcement.
Wiggin has given the town a proposal for four officers and three leased police cruisers for $447,290. An additional $6,000 would be needed for building maintenance.
If residents approve the plan at Town Meeting on March 17, four warrant articles for $81,600 in equipment purchases for town police will be dropped from the warrant as unnecessary.
The Budget Committee's final 2012 budget proposal is $492,833 for maintaining the current police department.
If Wiggin's plan is approved, the contract would begin on July 1.
Laroche said he isn't sure if residents will support the police department change.
"They seem to be split," he said. "Some like the idea, but some people want to retain the old way of doing things."
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