Effective immediately, Francestown police officers working on detail in nearby towns, both full-time and part-time, will be paid an additional $20 per hour.

On Monday, the Select Board voted 3-0 to approve increasing wages for Francestown p0lice officers on detail from $30 per hour to $50 per hour. 

According to Chief Fred Douglas, part-time officers are required to complete 1,300 hours per calendar year. In addition to their normal duties, the department is frequently requested to work detail two to three times per week from low-staffed neighboring towns, such as New Boston and Greenfield. Detail duties can include providing extra assistance to emergencies, traffic control and more.

Officers can choose to work detail by putting their name on the list, but they are not required to assist. According to Douglas, officers frequently decline the request for detail due to noncompetitive wages, as a 2023 review of police officer wages in surrounding towns showed that Francestown officers were paid 40 percent less compared to their neighbors.

Following the board’s decision on Monday, abutting towns who request detail work will be required to pay Francestown police officers $50 per hour, equalizing the difference in wages between Francestown and surrounding towns. 

After voting in favor of the request, Select Board Chair Scot Heath said it’s important for Francestown police officers to be compensated with competitive pay.

“We need to remain competitive with our abutting communities, and it was brought to our attention we weren’t competitive,” said Heath.

Following the board’s approval, Douglas said Francestown officers can now be fairly compensated for their work.

“[The new wages] are consistent with the other agencies, and I think it’s a plus,” said Douglas.

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