Plympton Police Face Staffing Crunch Amid Extended Medical Leaves
Chief Seeks New Hires, Lateral Transfers to Address Deficit
PLYMPTON - December 2 - The Plympton Police Department is grappling with staffing shortages due to extended medical leaves, Police Chief Matt Ahl reported to the Board of Selectmen on Dec. 2.
Two officers have been out for nearly two months, straining the department's resources and leading to increased overtime for remaining staff.
"We've been deficient there with some covering some shifts," Ahl said. "Thankfully, everybody next door [in the station] was working really hard to help pick those things up with our minimums, which has been good, but it's definitely been pretty taxing."
To address the shortage, the department has conducted eight interviews over the past couple of weeks, with promising candidates including both new officers and lateral transfers from other departments.
"We're trying to kind of work through what's going to work best and what's best suited for our department," Ahl said.
The Chief praised his staff for their efforts to cover shifts but acknowledged the toll it's taking. "We have a lot of people that are just working a lot, a lot to kind of offset down two officers right now," he said.
Despite the staffing challenges, Ahl reported that the department's salary budget remains on target. However, he expressed concern about sustaining the current overtime levels.
"I can't operate at this, the overtime level that we've been at as of late," Ahl said. "I think we could be better if I can help mitigate some of that overtime cost right now."
The department is also facing vehicle maintenance issues. Two cruisers are experiencing significant problems, described by Ahl as "bleeding out." To address this, the department has begun harvesting equipment from one vehicle to save money on a new cruiser.
Ahl is in talks with the Hanson Police Department to purchase a low-mileage 2021 cruiser they're taking out of rotation.
"We're going to reap the benefits of that, I believe," Ahl said. "So I'm just trying to figure out a way that I can kind of mitigate some costs on that because technically right now we're down two cruisers."
On a positive note, Ahl announced that Sergeant John Simon is expected to return to duty in late January after military service. The department plans to recognize Simon's return and his receipt of a bronze star.
"We can't welcome that anymore. We're looking forward to getting him back here," Ahl said.
The Chief also highlighted ongoing community initiatives, including the annual "Stuff a Cruiser" toy and food drive for local charities. Additionally, two officers recently collected coats, toiletries, and other donations for homeless individuals at an event at Gillette Stadium.
Board members praised Ahl's budget management and encouraged continued cost-cutting measures where possible.
Ahl assured the board that the department is prioritizing necessary expenditures over "extracurricular" activities.
"Everyone's operating at that level at this point, too. So they'll always ask, hey, if I need to do this, you know, can I do this? No, okay, when can I do it?" Ahl said. "So everyone next door is very conscious on that as well."
As the department navigates these challenges, Ahl remains optimistic about potential new hires easing the staffing crunch in the near future.
"We're getting through it," Ahl said. "And I can't thank the men and women next door enough."