The Town Finance Committee unanimously approved the Wareham Police Department's 2011 budget that, although increased by over $320,000 from the budget in 2010, was presented by interim Police Chief Richard Stanley as essential to reorganizing the department.

"It was clear that the department was lacking in many areas," Stanley said, reading aloud from the proposal. "The budget will enable the Police Department to continue its mission of rebuilding."

This year's budget was markedly different from those of 2009 and 2010. One lieutenant position was not replaced, decreasing regular salaries by over $100,000. But the budget for seasonal salaries nearly tripled from $37,600 to $97,931, funding for part-time positions was added, and overtime pay increased by $197,539 - in sum, seasonal, part-time and overtime line items cost $281,950 of the $321,015 budget increase.

At issue was whether the department was most effectively using its employees.
"What is our full-time staffing level?" committee member David Trudell asked Stanley. "Are we staffing based on a population of 20,000 residents during the winter or the 40,000 who are here in the summer?"

Stanley stated a departmental goal to have "less brass, more police on the streets," particularly during the summer. The interim chief argued that it was most effective and economic to accomplish this by increasing seasonal employment rather than hiring full-time officers, particularly when staffing special events.

"I would rather staff events with the least expensive help, seasonal employees" Stanley said, adding that they are young and eager to make a good impression in the possibility of future employment and have lower overtime rates than more tenured officers. "In winter, I don't want to have seven guys riding around when only four guys are needed."
Much of the budget increase for overtime also reflects the department's focus on training.

The department is seeking to become one of 35 certified police departments in Massachusetts. Stanley said that this process has helped the department devise and implement formal policies and procedures as well as renew their training. Although training requires that shifts be covered and/or overtime paid, the chief said it is sorely needed.
"When I got here [in August]," he said. "I had officers carrying guns in this community who hadn't shot a gun in three years."

Stanley said the certification process and associated training is also helping to correct some of the perceived tension among townspeople and the police department.

"What is the Police Department doing to develop a better rapport with the town?" asked member Bonnie Jean Cotulli "In the past, a tough cop attitude hasn't always worked,"
Stanley said that the department was trying to address these concerns by undergoing training to prevent racial bias and promote ethics and moral decision-making. The department is also reopening the records office and trying to be as transparent as possible with the town government and the press.

Yet with all the new initiatives, Stanley said that he was being as economical as possible. The department has encouraged web-based training on slow nights. The department is always looking for grants, Stanley said in response to questions from committee member Bob White, and these grants are being used to cover lease agreements for eight new vehicles this year.

"Some of the equipment needs, it's scary," Stanley said, recalling the first time that he sat in a Wareham cruiser and heard the dispatch system that is so outdated and ineffective that officers are often communicating via cell phone.

"I can train them, but I need you to get the funds to get the officers out on the streets to do their job."