Police Promotions Approved; Patrol Position To Be Cut

Selectmen on Wednesday approved the temporary promotions of two police officers, one to lieutenant and one to sergeant.

The positions opened with the retirement of Lt. Jeanne Butler.

The provisional promotions take effect once an agreement is finalized between the town and the police union, Town Administrator Thomas Younger said.

The negotiations could get done as soon as the coming week.

The department has yet to determine which officers will be promoted.

But the promotions will result in one fewer patrol officer on the force.

Police union President Lt. Tom Stevens of the Swampscott Police Department said having one fewer officer means the department will have the minimum number of officers on a shift, 5, more often.

Five patrol officers per shift provides the minimum for operating safely, though it means the department can not at times send a back-up officer to a call.

"Obviously, we are safer with one more officer," he said.

The department now operates at the minimum at times, including those when an officer is on vacation, he said.

Ultimately, the agreement is a balancing act between financial savings for the town and the department safely providing services, he said.

Younger said negotiations with the union had been good. The elimination of a patrol officer would result in long-term savings for the town.

"And it will allow the chief to be creative," Younger said.