Rochester adds a new full-time police officer

Oct 31, 2017

Rochester has a new full-time police officer.

Officer Brendan Emberg has been a part-time police officer in Rochester since 2015.

"He's served here well, it's always been his intention to move up to full time duties," said Sergeant Robert Small to the Rochester Board of Selectmen on October 30. "I'd like to recommend him as the town's newest full-time officer."

Emberg will be sworn in as a full-time officer by Town Clerk (and Selectman) Naida Parker, who was absent from Monday night's meeting.

Emberg's hiring as a full-time officer coincides with Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee's push to fully equip the police department. One police officer has been on extended medical leave, and other officers have picked up shifts, racking up significant overtime costs. "In all honesty, it would be much cheaper to hire another full-time officer than to keep paying overtime costs," Magee said at a prior Board of Selectmen meeting.

Emberg's hiring is also part of Magee's plan to have the Rochester Police Department fully-staffed and functioning well before he retires in September of 2018.