Laconia Police Department Short-Staffed

The police department will be soon down 11 officers amid recruiting difficulties and competition between regional law enforcement agencies for qualified employees.

The police have eight open positions, one officer who is pregnant and will be put on light duty and two officers who are due for 12 weeks of paternity leave.

The public works and fire departments are dealing with similar issues but to a lesser extent.

The police department sent representatives to a recent career fair at the University of Massachusetts and heard from only one student over the entire day.

Pay and benefits are partly to blame for the lack of staff.

Thanks to the Laconia Daily Sun for this report.