Concerned Citizen Urges Rochester Leadership to Address Police Department Resignations

Photo byNew England Pulse

ROCHESTER, NH – A Facebook post by Rochester NH Scanner Alerts has sparked public conversation surrounding the ongoing challenges within the Rochester Police Department, as a concerned citizen calls on the city’s leadership to take action following a sharp increase in officer resignations. The open letter, addressed to the Rochester Police Commission, City Manager, Mayor, and City Council, raises critical concerns about the leadership and management practices affecting the police force.

The letter highlights a troubling trend in the department, with 14 officers resigning in the first nine months of 2024—compared to five in 2020 and 12 in 2021. Many of these officers are not leaving law enforcement altogether but are transferring to other agencies, often without significant pay increases. The post anticipates that another one to three officers may leave by the end of the year, with more departures potentially coming in 2025.

The concerned citizen attributes this exodus to a culture of micromanagement and lack of support from city leadership, stating that “overly restrictive policies” and a “lack of trust from leadership” are causing officers to leave the department. The letter stresses that this issue is specific to Rochester and cannot simply be attributed to the national law enforcement recruitment crisis. It contrasts Rochester’s situation with neighboring agencies that have not experienced similar turnover rates.

Key concerns raised in the letter include a “Mother May I” culture that requires officers to seek unnecessary approvals for routine tasks, undermining their professional judgment and delaying critical response times. The letter also emphasizes the importance of conducting independent exit interviews through the Human Resources department, rather than internally within the Rochester Police Department, to gain honest insights from departing officers.

The open letter urges Rochester’s elected officials to trust and support the department’s leadership and officers, reduce micromanagement, and implement retention incentives such as longevity bonuses and career development opportunities. It stresses that efforts to recruit new officers must be balanced with initiatives to retain the experienced officers who possess vital institutional knowledge and contribute to the city’s safety.

The concerned citizen calls on the public to join in urging city officials to address these systemic issues, which are seen as a significant factor in the ongoing resignations.

Residents are encouraged to contact city officials through the links provided in the post to voice their concerns and support the police department.

The information for this article was sourced from a public Facebook post by Rochester NH Scanner Alerts.