Police Chief Karl Jacobson is eliminating one level of oversight and asking one supervisor to “double up” in the wake of two top-level retirements in his department.
The retirees are Capt. John Healy, whose last day is June 30, and Lt. Eliot Rosa, who leaves June 22.
Healy has served as officer in charge of the NHPD investigative services (aka detective) division. The three people who reported to him — Sgt. Gary Hammil, who supervises investigations of major crimes like shootings and homicides; Lt. Derek Warner, who oversees task forces and criminal intelligence; and Bureau of Identification and family services division chief Lt. Justin Marshall — will now report directly to Asst. Chief Bert Ettienne.
Lt. Rosa has served as the top cop in the Westville/West Hills/West Rock district. Jacobson has asked Downtown/Wooster Square top cop Lt. Brendan Borer to do double duty in the west side district as well, at least for the next few months.
Jacobson has had other district managers take on two precincts, as well, as the department struggles with a staffing shortage and a desire to put as many officers as possible on the beat and in investigations.
The chief praised Rosa for helping to reinvigorate the Police Athletic League (PAL) into a year-round, rather than just a summer, program, with 400 kids participating. He called Healy “a very important member of the SWAT team” and effective district manager.
A top fire official is retiring as well: Fire Investigation Supervisor Douglas Wardlaw, whose retirement is effective as of Tuesday. Click here for a previous story about his career.
Looks like the NHFD is doing what the City does: push the work of two people on to one person and burn them out. Certainly, these men have earned their retirement and I wish them well. Meanwhile, NH taxpayers will pay more to get less!