[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6077783,"mediaKeyId","2963173-087cb374eaca6deeec1c7de009a23fa0","parentId",2963173,"title","Resident presses Wolfeboro commission on handling of former chief's investigation; commissioners cite cultural changes and accreditation work","audioSeconds",304,"startMs",1486000,"endMs",1790000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963173-087cb374eaca6deeec1c7de009a23fa0&start=1486&end=1790","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963173-087cb374eaca6deeec1c7de009a23fa0/thumbnail_1486000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077783/New-Hampshire/Resident-presses-Wolfeboro-commission-on-handling-of-former-chiefs-investigation-commissioners-cite-cultural-changes-and-accreditation-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077783-0d288f9ea4c5e1df8b1ce064cdbccc9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063209&Signature=Tba4MHxINlRKcVAWh8v3KmqC~zKmXSQIAf6rv0IiJRhb83r7qpFkOg-2Pj~NhsK1IuckMGMzOejI8MvAPwgwX5s79qYN6wQzTGljY8ygI4oN9cMQSRm2a-3xMd7qJSEaNMhXKJjJGRZ0vAg6AEM-399GlIYy6WJbc-zkY~wv9HOiWa3RKzncWaaDmaU5y9K7fYOW7vj1yYuI4AU8JUXAp5Q3CNBsdlAcuv98~ystTq7xo2zREtImsK0Xq9rUkwjiBqf4VPYEoA2foOOU6jcFHhUKdAtA9fqICG5kZBwAaiLEtXREZ8hFlfE0tR5kOw6JJl3tA1wvkidCyuwUkmHV9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-11T11:21:56Z","article","During public comment at the April 10 meeting of the Wolfeboro Police Commission, resident Carol Lewellen asked commissioners to explain follow-up steps after an investigation of former Chief Rondo and pressed whether promises made on his retirement were fulfilled.

Lewellen said she had \"sent an email approximately 2 months ago asking questions\" and that she had not received a response. She asked about an earlier investigation of Chief Rondo, saying the findings were \"sustained\" and asking whether the commission had acted on recommendations.

Commissioners and department leaders responded with a review of post-investigation steps. Commissioner Duffy and other commissioners said the commission had overseen an internal investigation and that the department is pursuing accreditation and revising policies and procedures. Commissioner Duffy said the organizational culture has improved since the MRI (management review) report and the subsequent internal review, adding that \"there is the recipe for a healthy organizational culture within the Wolfeboro Police Department exists right now, and it's only gonna get better.\"

Chief Christopher Warren and other commissioners described a series of actions after the MRI and internal reviews: a change in leadership, an active accreditation process and efforts to ensure policies and expectations are enforced. Commissioner Duffy said Captain Libby has gained supervisory experience over eight years and that leadership is enforcing mission-first priorities.

Lewellen also raised a separate retirement-related grievance: she said she was told former Chief Rondo received a call offering \"good news\" and \"bad news\" the day after he left full-time service, and she said promises had been made that were not kept. She asked specifically whether Rondo had been promised a rocking chair and his service firearm.

Commissioners told Lewellen that the commission had adopted a policy change that generally stopped gifting service weapons to retirees; one commissioner said, \"we agreed that we weren't, we weren't going to gift service weapons, to retirees any longer, starting with the chief.\" Captain Libby and others said retirees may be offered the option to purchase their firearm from the vendor at a discounted price under past arrangements, and the captain said he would research records and follow up. On the rocking chair, commissioners said they would look into any record of the promise and report back.

Select Board member Paul O'Brien spoke during public comment earlier in the meeting, saying the Select Board voted to seek advice from the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office about next steps for the Libby matter and that the process to identify qualified trustees or operators \"is gonna take a while.\" He also discussed recent town budget work and said fireworks funding for the summer had been preserved.

Why it matters: residents raised questions about transparency, past disciplinary findings and whether past promises to employees were kept. Commissioners emphasized that the department is moving toward accreditation, improved policy compliance, and a culture where officers back one another up.

Commissioners said they would respond to Lewellen's emailed questions and that the captain would research the specific claims about the retired chief's promised items and potential purchase options for retired firearms. The commission's next meeting is scheduled for May 8 at 6 p.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","10 April 2025 Wolfeboro Police Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment at the April 10 meeting of the Wolfeboro Police Commission, resident Carol Lewellen asked commissioners to explain follow-up steps after an investigation of former Chief Rondo and pressed whether promises made on his retirement were fulfilled.","taxTitle","Wolfeboro Police Commission, Wolfeboro, Carroll County, New Hampshire","taxId",68309,"location","New Hampshire","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6077790,"Wolfeboro police commissioners hear staffing, training and dispatch relocation updates",712,117000,829000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963173-087cb374eaca6deeec1c7de009a23fa0&start=117&end=829","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963173-087cb374eaca6deeec1c7de009a23fa0/thumbnail_117000.jpg","/articles/6077790/New-Hampshire/Wolfeboro-police-commissioners-hear-staffing-training-and-dispatch-relocation-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077790-ecc5af389b4a9c76be1553dda378c3df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063209&Signature=GUK-pzcM2AU6BnE2IBQpuaSFPzGUPOpHjAocOA-pAqaYb3k0P5bTBb26bUHH4zdeMagwiy1nM5tu6QQNXcKxUkoCLuJTOBLJNKNLTnp6a0ySfUWjnX5YejLWWXgY8gGq553lSSWKU0rUEGMxZTMpveS2Rmk0YcBqQeRTg5~rmIHq~8lRaawHWkcfc2MNUITe0~LtEOcCQyzonduhyt7c0zI2qgRYJ1JsqEew7XeVYUSebmDjD7-G5POJPimKTgOaLe8cn6zrhRzLtav56XVi9RNdouVAcIfo94o62cNyzNnlN4WEQQvnLLEOZ-TLypcyZ7bzrcbqDRMFhWa1QtHZxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wolfeboro Police Commission on April 10 received monthly activity reports showing a small decline in incidents and discussed staffing, training and a planned move of the dispatch center, officials said.

Captain Libby, who delivered the department's monthly report, said \"for the month of March, we had a decrease of 2 percent, with 49.\" He told commissioners collisions were down \"40%, from 10 to 6,\" while traffic stops rose sharply from 61 in February to 157 in March.

The report also included dispatch and court statistics: the department recorded 3,501 calls for service handled by Wolfeboro Central Dispatch in March and 154 walk-ins in the month, with 447 walk-ins year to date. Captain Libby said court-related fines totaled roughly $1,700.4 and that the department's operating budget was running about 3.12% underspent.

Why it matters: commissioners said staffing and training choices affect patrol coverage and public safety visibility. \"We're still looking good for our operations,\" Captain Libby said, noting the town plans to reallocate about $77,000 from several budget lines this year but that the department believes it can manage the reduction while several positions remain unfilled.

Commissioners discussed hiring and the department's training pipeline. Recruiting uses multiple venues, including Indeed and Facebook, and candidates go through an oral board and background checks, Captain Libby said. The department is piloting a pre-academy field-training period: two new hires began a short field-training block before the academy, which the captain said is intended to give recruits practical experience ahead of the 16-week academy and the roughly 12-week field-training program that follows.

\"This is something new that we're trying out,\" Captain Libby said of the pre-academy training; \"then they do the academy that goes 16 weeks. And then the field training, full field training is about 12 weeks.\" He added the background-investigation stage can take months.

Commissioners were told the department currently has four vacancies, with two candidates in background checks who are being considered for an August academy class. Investigator Shaburi was identified as handling current background investigations.

On facilities, Captain Libby said the dispatch center is expected to occupy the new front section of the police building \"by the end of May or June,\" though he cautioned some finishing work could delay a full lobby opening. The captain said the department will not rush the move and will ensure construction touch-ups are complete before staff relocate.

Administrative notes: the commission approved minutes from the March 13 meeting as written and adjourned at the end of the April 10 session. The commission's next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 8 at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall.

Community impact: commissioners and staff repeatedly tied the staffing and training updates to public-facing results, noting reduced collisions and increased traffic enforcement as indicators of more visible patrols. Several commissioners and staff emphasized that the department is pursuing accreditation and revising policies and procedures to meet accreditation standards.","At its April 10 meeting the Wolfeboro Police Commission heard activity statistics showing fewer incidents in March, reviewed staffing and hiring timelines, and was told the dispatch center is expected to move to the building's front section by late spring or early summer.","actionData","errors"]

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Resident presses Wolfeboro commission on handling of former chief's investigation; commissioners cite cultural changes and accreditation work

Wolfeboro police commissioners hear staffing, training and dispatch relocation updates