Dublin Police Chief Tim Suokko said he would be amenable to a conversation with the public via Zoom about policing at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting. He also said he would provide the Town Administrator a copy of the department’s use of force policy, which would be available to the public upon request. Although he initially declined to share the policy when the Keene Sentinel requested it, he discovered he could disclose it after seeking legal counsel, Suokko said.
Select Board member Carole Monroe asked Suokko about having a virtual conversation with the public. “Just like any other community, we’re being asked for information,” she said. Although Monroe didn’t think there were issues with the Dublin Police Department specifically, a Zoom meeting would be an opportunity for the Chief to have a conversation with the community, she said. “He’s always amenable to meet with the public,” she said, and that she, Suokko, and Town Administrator Kate Fuller would be figuring out when and how to hold the conversation.
The Select Board also opted to sell the police cruiser that’s been for sale since the winter at Tuesday’s meeting. They sold the cruiser to Andrew M. Wood, who cast the single bid of $3,000. The cruiser, a Ford Interceptor with about 112,000 miles on it, was originally for sale via bids over $5,000, but the town didn’t receive any bids above the minimum by the start of March.
“My understanding is the car market is depressed. People are not buying vehicles, rental companies are dumping cars,” Select Board Chair Walter Snitko said at the meeting on Tuesday, before the Board voted to accept the bid to take the car off their hands. Proceeds from the sale are set to go to the town’s general fund.
The department is restarting its hiring process for a full time officer, Suokko said, and that part time officer Chris Labrecque recently resigned in favor of a job with the Jaffrey Police Department.