The state Legislature has been presented a request to let the people of Hooksett vote on whether to expand the Police Commission from three members to five. The state has to approve the request because the commission was created at the state level back in 1975.

At the time, the three-member commission seemed sufficient. And with the right three people in those seats, it may still be.

However, what has been discovered recently is that the citizens of Hooksett have very little control over that commission. The only power the Hooksett Town Council has is to appoint a new member if someone resigns. Otherwise, only one person at a time will be up for election and possible change.

At least a few people in Hooksett have lost confidence in the commission and the police chief. They are frustrated with the inability to get questions answered about the chief’s behavior and how he runs the Hooksett Police Department.

Is expanding the commission the answer? Perhaps it is, perhaps not. But we firmly believe the people of Hooksett should have the right and ability to make that decision. Only if the state Legislature approves the town’s request to vote on such a change will we have a meaningful debate on whether the commission should expand to five members.

Perhaps, during the process, we’ll also finally get to hear what “dirty laundry” the chief has on the town. And wouldn’t that be interesting?

We hope the state says OK.

- Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board.

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