North Hampton brings in retired chief to temporarily lead Police Department

Angeljean Chiaramida
·3 min read

NORTH HAMPTON — Town leaders will bring in an interim police administrator to lead the department while they search for the town's next police chief.

The Select Board made the announcement Monday night after officially accepting Police Chief Kathryn Mone’s resignation.

Mone, 42, sent a letter to the board announcing her retirement effective March 31. She has declined to comment on why, but it follows the recent departure of the department’s deputy chief and two sergeants. It also follows town leaders hiring an outside investigator to look into an incident involving former North Hampton police Sgt. Asa Johnson taking a 67-year-old allegedly intoxicated woman from her home into protective custody Oct. 17. The investigation conducted by Municipal Resources Inc. determined the officer’s actions were not appropriate "and other short- and long-term remedies should have been pursued."

Town officials will bring in an interim police administrator to lead the department while they undertake the search for North Hampton’s next police chief.
Town officials will bring in an interim police administrator to lead the department while they undertake the search for North Hampton’s next police chief.

The board announced Monday they have contracted with Municipal Resources Inc. to provide temporary assistance to fill the administrative gap created by Mone’s retirement, as well as undertake a “nationwide search” for the town’s next police chief.

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The recent departures have left the department with one leader, Lt. James Russell, along with five full-time officers and one part-time.

Retired Durham chief to serve as police administrator

According to Town Administrator Michael Tully, through MRI the town was able to secure the services of retired Durham police chief David Kurz, who will act as “temporary police administrator.”

Retired Durham police chief David Kurz will act as “temporary police administrator” for the North Hampton Police Department.
Retired Durham police chief David Kurz will act as “temporary police administrator” for the North Hampton Police Department.

Kurz retired in 2020 after serving 24 years as Durham’s top law enforcement officer. He previously served as the chief of the Gorham (Maine) Police Department and for five years as deputy director of the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Tully said Kurz will review the department and “make recommendations for police operations in our community.”

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North Hampton to conduct nationwide search for new chief

At the same time, Tully said MRI has been contracted to run the nationwide search for the new police chief.

According to Tully, in the weeks and months ahead the search will commence as MRI meets with town officials and reaches out to the community to learn the characteristics, skills and experience they want in a police chief. After that, ads will be developed and placed, resumes accepted and reviewed and interviews conducted, before the new chief can be chosen.

Finding competent law enforcement leadership isn’t easy these days, according to Select Board Chair James Sununu, noting the nation is experiencing a lack of candidates for all types of law enforcement positions.

In a recent interview, Sununu said, small communities in particular tend to be at a disadvantage in hiring qualified candidates because they often provide lower salaries and fewer opportunities for career advancement. He said communities sometimes find themselves in competition with their neighbors for officers to hire to fill vacant positions.

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Select Board on recent police departures

Sununu previously stated Mone did not give a specific reason for her departure. She sent in a letter on March 1, simply stating she would be “retiring effective March 31.”

At the March 13 Select Board meeting, Sununu said “we’re sorry to see her go.”

“It’s always tough to lose a valued employee,” he said. “We wish her well on her future endeavors.”

North Hampton Police Chief Kathryn Mone announced she’s retiring at the end of March.
North Hampton Police Chief Kathryn Mone announced she’s retiring at the end of March.

Both Sununu and Tully have previously chalked up the recent police departures to other communities offering higher salaries than small towns like North Hampton, along with the difficulty all police agencies are having keeping staff and filling vacancies due to the stresses on law enforcement currently.

When asked to comment on the current morale of the department and if he anticipated more officers leaving, Tully had this to say: “I believe we have intelligent and capable employees throughout the town that I hope continue their employment in our community.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: North Hampton brings in ex-Durham chief to lead Police Department