LISBON

The town of Lisbon is looking to add to the police department.

Lisbon’s town council approved adding a second police officer to the police budget Tuesday. In a 4-3 vote, the second officer was approved. At a budget workshop with the police department, Chief Marc Hagan expressed the department’s need for additional officers.

“From the standpoint of the council it’s about need,” said Town Manager Diane Barnes. “It’s weighing the need and cost, from a council standpoint it’s an increase that’s needed.”

Hagan’s original request at the May 8 budget workshop was one additional officer. After hearing the challenges the department is facing, the council decided an additional officer may be necessary. The department needs additional patrol. Hagan shared safety concerns in terms of officers responding without backup because of staffing.

“We have bare minimum coverage, any time somebody’s out sick, anytime somebody’s on vacation, or have an injury we are running on overtime rates,” Hagan told councilors. “In the middle of the night we have officers responding by themselves or calling for Sabattus or calling for Androscoggin sheriffs who aren’t always available or they’re ten minutes away.”

Hagan added the department has received calls regarding traffic safety patrols. With additional officers, they would be able to better monitor speed and traffic safety. When posed with the question if one additional officer would be enough, Hagan stated it would only be a step in the right direction.

Three years ago, the town had a study done to analyze the department. The study recommended the police department operate with 14 officers. Lisbon currently has 12 officers on staff. Based on the study, the two new hires would bring the department up to an operational level. There is also an urgency to hiring two officers as it takes time to get someone new ready for patrol.

“If we hire someone that’s not a blue pin, meaning they haven’t gone to the academy, it takes time,” said Barnes. “They only offer the academy twice a year.”

“It’s tough to get somebody to leave another police department right now to go to another police department,” said Hagan. “You have to time it right to get somebody in there.”

The Maine Criminal Justice Academy offers two courses per year, one in August and one in January. Depending on when an officer is hired, it can take months for the officer to be ready for patrol. There is also a training period after the academy before a new department member is ready for patrol. Hagan told the council it would be a proactive measure instead of reactive.

Barnes said the cost for each additional officer is likely to fall between $81,000 and $83,000. As the town continues to work through a final budget, she said the council’s decision was based on a need in the police department. She said revenues are yet to be allocated before a final budget is approved in June, a final step to approving the two new positions.

Chris@timesrecord.com