New police officer takes to the street
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham Police Department's newest officer started his first shift after two weeks of training on Tuesday, Officer Les Holgerson was hired to help the town during the absence of Officer Kevin Ahern.

"He worked for me over in Hubbardston. He has over 10 years experience in law enforcement. I was pretty familiar with his work ethic. We have some other pretty good candidates," said Police Chief Loring Barrett.

Holgerson was hired on Feb. 12 and worked for two weeks on field training to get to know the town and the departmental procedures.

Barrett said the advertising for an academy trained police officer took place during January, and some of the 14 applicants were interviewed by him and Police Sergeants Todd Parsons and Robert Brennan at the end of the month.

"We required academy trained police officers apply," Barrett said. "He is basically filling in on Officer Ahern's spot."

The goal was to get a new officer on the job as quickly as possible because the department has been working short staffed since Ahern was injured on duty.

"Unfortunately he doesn't give us another body out in town," Barrett said. The department, which has been trying to get two men on each shift, is still short a person of the goal.

Barrett said Holgerson's position has been incorporated into the 2009 budget, which would give the department two men per shift, if Ahern returns to work.

Barrett said Ahern is resting and rehabbing his injuries after receiving surgery on them and the expectation is he will be out for months.

Selectmen approved the addition of one officer to the staff at the beginning of January, because most of the extra cost in the budget would be absorbed by the insurance coverage on Ahern.