BY DAVE CHOATE

When officer Josh Woehl resigned recently, he left behind more than his badge and his gun. He left a police department facing one of its most persistent problems, one that hangs over every skeleton shift and late night call: understaffing.  

Police Chief Chris Krajenka said the department currently has four full- time officers and one part-time officer. A study conducted by a former department police chief concluded that the department should have 10 officers to function at full capacity, which hints that New Boston’s current force is operating at less than half its optimal number of officers.

“It hurts severely, and I myself have come back in several nights to deal with things that have gone on over the last week (Aug. 12). I would like to have the townspeople know how hard our officers are working for them,” Krajenka said.

The understaffing has as much to do with time as with money. Krajenka said he is currently looking at three candidates for the opening left by Woehl’s departure and a new open position authorized by the town.

The lengthy nature of the process is familiar to small town police forces, but Krajenka said it can still be frustrating when help is needed immediately.

“It is what it is. The system is established and background and psychological testing has to be done to weed out nonviable candidates. But if we hire an officer in December, they have to start the academy in January and will be gone for 14 weeks, which takes us into mid-March. Then there’s a six-week field training program from there that would take until June,” Krajenka said.

The paradox is a difficult one for a small department. New Boston is not a town riddled with crime problems. Nonetheless, the 2000 census placed the population at 4,138 people, meaning there is less than one full-time officer for every 1,000 town residents.

Krajenka recounted the last recruiting effort in June, which began with 11 candidates and was eventually pared down to 0 through background, physical and psychological testing. The recruiting effort has begun anew, and Krajenka said he’s hopeful to have replacement candidates soon.

New Boston Town Administrator Burton Reynolds said the Police Department’s struggles are systemic of a small town. He said the town will consider adding another new officer position during budget season but will have to balance the needs of other departments on a limited budget.

“We try to be forward-looking and take action step by step. We can’t predict what will happen until budget time, and maybe we’ll be able to attend to everything. But if it’s not possible, we’ll have to make some decisions,” Reynolds said.

Realistically, the chief said he knows he won’t have a full force of 10. What Krajenka said he really wants is enough officers to cover the increased call volume and crime the evenings and weekends can bring.

“I’d like to cover my shifts with no gaps, and with a minimum of two officers on duty at night for safety’s sake,” he said. “The town is making great strides in changing this, and though I wish it could be a little faster, I understand we can’t burden the taxpayers. But what I can promise is that we’re giving those taxpayers the best possible service we can provide.”