Dartmouth Police Launch New Effort For New Station

The last time Dartmouth Police made a request for a new station it was rejected by voters.

In the wake of that defeat Police Chief Robert Szala told WBSM News that he began an outreach effort to educate voters on the project.

Szala says last time residents had too many questions regarding the project and opted not to support it, something he plans to remedy.

"It was brought to my attention on several occasions by the community that they didn't know what they were getting for the money and how we were going to go about it," said Szala "that was definitely a concern this time going forward and it's not going to happen again."

Szala says he will be having regular meetings with town officials while providing the public with up-to-date information.

"What we're going to start of by doing is continuing to educate the public with monthly, if not bi-weekly, newsletters to update them on the project every step of the way," said Szala.

Szala has also been working with an advisory board whose members who he says have a wide array of backgrounds and offer valuable perspective.

"You got members of the finance committee, board of assesors, we've got a planning board member, former selectwoman, state government official, former police officer, and specifically just advising what they hear from the public and what they feel through all their vast experience and exposure to town government," said Szala.

Szala and the advisory board will discuss the project's next steps during a meeting with the full Selectboard August 8.

They plan to bring a proposal before voters in April 2017.