Laconia PD swears in three new officers

LACONIA — Three rookie police officer were sworn in at the Police Commission's monthly meeting yesterday afternoon.

Matthew Wolak is originally from Thompson, Connecticut, and graduated cum laude from Worcester State College with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Before coming to Laconia, he worked in the psychiatric unit of the New HampshireState Prison for Men.

Kira Goodheart is from Meredith and graduated from Inter-Lakes High School. She graduated summa cum laude from Plymouth State University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. She is a gymnast and a power lifter who did an internship with the Laconia Police Department.

Holly Gage is from Nashua and graduated from Merrimack High School. She has an associate's degree from Hesser College and previously worked as a loss prevention officer at J.C. Penney. She completed an internship with the Merrimack Police Department.

All three will attend the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Academy in the fall but will be doing local training until that time.

Other police news

• Chief Christopher Adams said Sgt. Gary Hubbard is working with the Laconia School District in preparing a pamphlet for schools to distribute at the end of the year informing parents and children about finding needles during their summer vacations, warning them about the dangers of touching them, and explaining to them that the police should be called to safely dispose of them.

• Adams announced that Patrol Officer Kyle Jepson was named Officer of the Year at the recent awards banquet.

•Capt. Matt Canfield said he has been in daily communication with the organizers and promoters of Laconia Fest, which is hosting live musical entertainment at the Weirs Drive-In during the annual Motorcycle Week. He said he is being kept up to date on preshow ticket sales and hopes to get fairly accurate numbers in time for the show.

Adams said that the three newly sworn officers will be working at Motorcycle Week but will be working exclusively with field training officers.

• Prevention Education and Training Officer Eric Adams is earning his Licensed Alcohol and Drug Councilor certificate and will be attend a seminar that can be used a credit toward his certification.

From left are Patrol Officer Matthew Wolak, Commissioner Doug Whittum, Patrol Officer Holly Gage, Commissioner Thomas Tarr, Patrol Officer Kira Goodheart, Commissioner Armand Maheux, and Police Chief Christopher Adams. (Laconia Daily Sun Photo - Gail Ober)