Police chief looks to retired officers for detail work
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Northborough - In an eff ort to have more police details in town worked by Northborough police officers, Police Chief Mark Leahy petitioned the Board of Selectmen Aug. 20 to appoint Tom Martin as a special police officer.

"Tommy was a sergeant on the force who retired in early July," Leahy told the board. "He's still a relatively young guy and still in pretty good health, and he still wants to work, just not full-time."

Leahy asked for the appointment and to allow Martin to - ceremonially - keep his rank of sergeant.

The board approved Leahy's recommendation unanimously.

After the meeting, Leahy explained that Martin will be used at some of the many police details in town, most likely one that involves traf- fic being re-routed along a road construction site.

"It's the same thing the board approved when Frank Mueller retired," Leahy said. "What I'm trying to do is build up a reserve force so that we can become less dependent upon non-Northborough officers to work details in Northborough."

Leahy said currently officers from Berlin and Boylston are working details in town.

"And the need for detail officers is only going to increase when the construction and road work for the Loop and the AvalonBay developments get going," Leahy said. "Man, is the need for detail officers going to increase. When they start bring water and sewer down Route 20 and into the development we're going to need a lot of officer to help keep the backups to a minimum."