The Dartmouth Police Department is currently down seven officers and anticipates losing another four by the end of the year, according to Police Chief Brian Levesque.

Levesque met with the Select Board Monday, July 22 to request the town offer employment to six candidates — all of whom were unanimously granted conditional officer employment, pending the completion of all required paperwork and training.

On the Civil Service list this year were 44 candidates, 17 of which signed saying they were willing for appointment, he said. On June 25, fifteen of those candidates arrived for mandatory orientation — one dropping out on the day. 

The department had requested to fill six vacancies, allowing them to choose from the top 13 candidates, Levesque said. Background investigations were run on the top eight.

Getting through this hiring process quickly and thoroughly can be tricky, Levesque said, especially when it comes to space at local academies. 

The department is currently looking at Plymouth Academy, which would begin late August, he said. Unfortunately, it is currently full, but there is still time for candidates from other programs to drop out.

Therefore, Levesque said the department is going to keep an eye out, get the candidates on the waitlist as well as make phone calls to find out when the next academy session would be as there are not any scheduled at this time.

To the candidates, Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald said, “You guys have chosen a profession that really, number one, is dangerous, and number two, probably not well liked lately, but it’s admirable.”

McDonald emphasized the importance of having support in this role, not just from the town, but from their respective families.

Additionally, he highlighted how all the candidates are from Dartmouth.

“That’s the most difficult part,” he said, “is that you have to dispense justice on people that you know and that makes it difficult, but learning from the staff that is there now, they do admirably and I expect nothing less from any new recruit.”