Swampscott officials opt not to hire officer

SWAMPSCOTT – The Swampscott Police Department will be down an officer after town officials decided not to hire a full-time patrol officer because the town couldn?t afford the position?s benefits long-term, according to Town Administrator Thomas Younger.The item to hire the patrol officer was originally on the Sept. 5 Board of Selectmen meeting agenda, but the vote was postponed so Younger could meet with Chief Ron Madigan and the police union. Younger said Tuesday that a tentative agreement was reached that will allow for the promotions for two officers to lieutenant and sergeant, but not to hire the patrol officer.?We are looking at the long-term basis for positions with benefits, retirement and insurance,” said Younger. “Swampscott is no different than any other community looking at those issues.”Younger said the agreement is one that will be “a benefit to the community and allows the chief management flexibility regarding positions.”When asked if being one short would affect the town negatively, Younger said, “I?m very confident that the patrol team and the chief will be working together to provide the best service they can. I am not anticipating a disruption of service. I believe they will have proper field officers on the road. I do not believe there will be an issue.”Madigan did not return repeated calls on Tuesday but, at the Sept. 5 meeting that had approximately 25 officers in attendance, he said it would be in the town?s best interest to have “proper supervision of police officers,” and that adding these positions would be “maintaining structure, not adding on.”?Swampscott is a safe town. We are victims of our own success,” said Madigan. “It?s not apparent to people in town to what officers deal with on a regular basis ? There is an understood need to have a discussion with the union, I just wanted to be clear from my perspective.”The Board of Selectmen will vote tonight to make the officer promotions at a 7:15 p.m. meeting.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].