Swampscott police chief stresses need for additional officer

SWAMPSCOTT – Swampscott Police Chief Ron Madigan cited Wednesday?s armed robbery at Swampscott Mall in trying to persuade selectmen to approve the hiring of a police officer.With all hands on deck dealing with the robbery, Madigan said it brought to light how prevalent the need was for an officer to fill a position that became vacant last fall, when an officer retired.?It would take very little to put us in the position of having no officers to respond to a call coming in,” said Madigan at the meeting Wednesday. “Our officers are the real thing, out there dealing with dangerous people.”The town decided against filling the vacancy last year because the pension proved to be too expensive. But in the year that?s followed, five injured officers out on leave have led to a record-high year of overtime pay. Madigan said it was time to reconsider the issue.According to Town Administrator Thomas Younger, the overtime cost was about $90,000 last year, and a new officer position would cost about $70,000. But Board of Selectmen Chairman Jill Sullivan added that with pension and benefits the cost of the officer actually works out to be more than overtime.Madigan said constantly cycling overworked officers through their shifts is not the makings of a healthy work environment; tired officers can?t protect the town in the same way fresh ones can.?Routine overtime is not the proper way to operate a department,” he said.The officer in question to fill the vacancy would actually be a rehire, explained Madigan. The department paid for the officer?s training, but he was later laid off due to budget cuts. He now works in Marblehead.Madigan said the department hasn?t hired in five years, and has decreased from a department of 36 to 31 since he became chief 12 years ago.The board did not vote on the position because it was listed on the agenda as a discussion item, but they are expected to vote on the matter Aug. 21.On another note, Madigan confirmed the date for the department to move into the new police station on Humphrey Street for Aug. 21, and said there would be a community-wide open house, probably in the fall.Police have circulated a photo of a suspect in Wednesday?s robbery at the Gap store, but there have been no arrests.