Amherst Police Department
Amherst Town Council has approved a recruitment competition for 2 full-time uniform police positions during a special meeting on Monday August 12th, 2024.
The positions will be used to offset rising overtime costs due to long-term shortages and to provide extra coverage when required while providing much needed relief for officers who have been working extra hours to cover shortages.
In recent years, officers have been responding to an increasing number of occurrences concerning mental health, substance use-disorder, social and homelessness issues. Officer workload has also increased dramatically in recent years as a result of increased and more complex calls for service and a shift in procedure/protocol and expectations on police as a result in changes in technology, case law and accountability, all of which has had a profound impact on staff wellness.
Following the meeting Mayor Kogon noted “It is important that we provide the resources needed to sustain base service levels and ensure adequate coverage to protect not only the citizens but officers as well. These positions will cover vacancies that occur from various long term leaves of absence and is not intended to permanently increase the full time staffing complement.”
Direct enquiries to:
Kimberlee Jones
Director of Communications / IT
902-664-8885
