PLAINFIELD – The Select Board has issued a survey on policing in town that’s available for residents to fill out with the aim of providing input to the board and the Police Department.
The survey was crafted by the Plainfield Police Ad-Hoc Working Group and used input from town officials and police.
“It’s a very general survey,” said Kimberly Longey, a member of the working group, which advises the Select Board.
The 29-question survey covers areas of public safety and quality of life issues, and issues of crime, police staffing levels and performance.
All Plainfield adults 18 or older are eligible to take the survey, with a deadline of Feb. 28 for people to respond. So far, of the 546 potential respondents, 105 have responded as of Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s a great response rate so far,” Longey said.
Residents are able to take the survey online at https://plainfield-ma.us/policesurvey by entering a four-digit code that was mailed to them. The survey also can be filled out in paper form, with copies available for download on the town’s website or pickup at the library and town offices.
Longey said the town has invested significantly in its Police Department over the last three years.
“Plainfield has invested significantly in increasing the size of our department,” Longey said.
At the last annual Town Meeting, Plainfield chose to move to having a full-time chief and sergeant. Additionally, the department also employs two part-time officers.
Longey said tthe survey gives residents the ability to provide input on the Police Department outside of the budgeting process. She also said that a report with the survey findings will be issued by the end of March.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.