The Norwich Police Department is asking city officials for a new position that department heads say would help lessen overtime hours of its officers. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

NORWICH – Facing staff burnout and low retention rates, the Norwich Police Department is appealing to the city’s common council to create a new position for the department that the police chief says would help ease the burden on his officers.

“Retention has always been an issue here at Norwich PD,” said Police Chief Reuben Roach. “Losing officers, especially this day in age, is very commonplace.”

Roach addressed members of the Norwich Common Council at a meeting of the city’s joint committees earlier this month to make his case for a civilian position in his department to handle clerical duties, including manning the front desk, answering phones, and filing legal paperwork.

This new position, said Roach, would lessen the workload on officers who are already working significant overtime hours to cover shifts.

“It would cut down on the overtime the officers are dealing with. That would be two weeks, or sixty hours, in overtime that would save the officers from burnout,” said Roach. “My biggest concern right now is that they’re seeing other departments where there’s more staff and quite less overtime with around the same amount of money. My concern is that we lose officers through attrition and transfers.”

If endorsed by the city council, the new position would cover the 3-11 p.m. shift at the Norwich PD, which Roach said would free up his officers to take on other duties.