The Gorham Police Department was impacted by the pandemic and the accompanying restrictions as everyone was. While there were some substantial changes, the overall total number of calls for service dropped from 13,796 to 12,014, a decrease of about 13%. Traffic stops decreased about 37%, arrests decreased about 30%, VSACS and warnings decreased about 73%.

Chief Sanborn noted that there were fewer traffic stops, and fewer summons issued as a means of reducing contact and potential exposure between officers and members of the public.

During the course of the pandemic, there were a number of officers who left the Gorham Police Department, including several officers hired during that time to replace officers who had retired or moved on to other positions. Several of the new hires also moved on, but Chief Sanborn believes that the four newest officers with the Gorham Police Department are strong officers who appear to be settling in and likely to stay on a long term basis.

Sanborn pointed out that before the pandemic, the GPD would receive up to a hundred applications for any opening, but this was not the case during much of the pandemic.

Sanborn believes Covid-19 has been an opportunity to rethink how the Town, Police and Fire can better prepare for major events and are looking at having an emergency operation center with dispatch at the Fire Department.

Sanborn is developing plans to have food and bedding available for future emergencies which might be weather related, a mass casualty or a hazardous spill. The Town has earmarked funds to get this process underway. The Town also struggled to obtain PPE and other needed Covid supplies during the early days of the pandemic, so funds are being set aside for future crises.