RUMFORD — Selectmen voted 4-1 Thursday night to hire a full-time police officer recommended by Chief Stacy Carter.

James McLamb is a U.S. Army reservist and will graduate from Thomas College in Waterville in about two weeks, Carter said. According to the college website, McLamb is a criminal justice major from Livermore Falls.

McLamb must attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy within a year of his hiring.

The board unanimously gave Carter permission Feb. 20 to proceed with finding someone to replace officer Dan Carrier, who accepted a position with the Mexico Police Department.

Carter spoke of the difficulties of hiring officers to fill positions only to have other officers leave.

He told selectmen Thursday night that the position had already been approved in the budget. Hiring McLamb will enable Carter to keep two officers on duty per shift, “which is a necessity,” he said.

Asked by Selectman Brad Adley if McLamb would be an additional officer for the department, Carter said no. Adley then motioned to hire McLamb.

Adley, Jeff Sterling, Jolene Lovejoy and Greg Buccina voted for the motion, Frank DiConzo voted against.

In other police business, Carter said that with the onset of spring, Rumford police will be doing extra patrols and focusing on drivers operating under the influence and enforcing the seat belt law through May. That will be funded by the Bureau of Highway Safety.

Additionally, a grant through the Office of Substance Abuse will allow the department to focus on underage drinking in May and June.

“We’re getting into the prom season and graduations,” he said. “Hopefully, we won’t have any problems in trying to keep our highways safe and our youth safe.”

tkarkos@sunjournal.com