Saugus looks to bolster police, fire departments

SAUGUS – Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he?s looking to beef up public safety in Saugus by making some new hires at the Police and Fire departments.Crabtree said he plans to hire three firefighters and three police officers, and has called for the Civil Service list for both departments.?From a long-term standpoint I?m trying to deal with a lack of adequate staffing for police and fire, and to have more manpower rather than spending on overtime,” said Crabtree.Crabtree said the new hires will not only benefit the safety of the public, but the safety of the police officers and firefighters.?One of the things we?re trying to prioritize and change is the philosophy of having less guys work more hours with less staffing and using overtime,” said Crabtree. “We?re trying to actually provide the adequate personnel which would actually reduce some of the overtime.”The three hires for the Police Department will fill the voids left by former Assistant Chief Leonard Campanello, who left to become chief in Gloucester, Lt. David Putnam, who recently retired, and another officer who transferred to the Revere Police Department.With 38 patrolmen and 54 police officers total, Police Chief Domenic DiMella said any new hires will definitely help.?Staffing will help with a lot of issues, like getting guys on the street and help with the overtime situation,” said DiMella. “When I got on 22 years ago we had 65. There was a study done in the ?90s that recommended 75. The ideal number I couldn?t say ? I want to maintain what we have, that?s for sure.”DiMella said the new hires will also fulfill a federal grant the department received last year by maintaining staffing levels. The grant provides money for three new officers for three years. Two of those officers graduated from the police academy six months ago, and one has about six weeks left, said DiMella.DiMella said it could take up to a year to hire to new officers.In addition to the three new hires at the fire department, Crabtree said he?s also waiting to hear word on a grant to hire eight new firefighters for three years.Fire Chief Donald McQuaid said the additional firefighters will hopefully “beef up some of the groups.”?We?re so short at this point if we could get three more guys it would bring all the groups up to nine and a couple up to 10,” said McQuaid. “We?ll be in much better shape than we are now.”Saugus currently operates four groups of firefighters, which are split between the central station on Hamilton Street and the Essex Street station.McQuaid said he?s also hoping a firefighter who was deployed in Iraq will return by December.?The more guys we have, we?ll be able to keep (the Essex Street Fire Station) open,” said McQuaid.Much like hiring police officers, hiring new firefighters can take up to a year as well.?We?ll train them in-house and when an academy slot opens up we?ll send them in,” said McQuaid. “Usually it?s within a year.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].