By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Erving, MA) The Erving select board discussed police department staffing concerns at their latest meeting, held on Wednesday, June 22nd. Police Department staffing has been an ongoing, cyclical issue for the town. Selectman William Bembury discussed the issue of retention, which Chairman Jacob Smith said is in part due to a lack of opportunity for advancement in a small town’s police department. The residents in attendance at the meeting discussed their own concerns regarding staffing shortages in the police department as well as other public safety departments; with many of those who spoke having had personal experiences of long wait times for emergency medical assistance.