A number of residents of Heritage Village in Southbury are upset to learn that the Community Resource Officer position stationed on site is proposed to change to a detective position. 

During the August Board of Selectmen meeting, they question how the two will compare and asked the Board to reconsider voting on the position.  Discussion is slated to continue Thursday night.  The union president and labor attorney were asked to attend the meeting.  First Selectman Jeff Manville explained that contractually, they can't force someone to take the Community Resource Officer position and there were no applicants for the job.  He added that the CRO job description was enhanced to include the detective portion in order to attract an applicant. 

Part of the job description is to act as a liaison to Heritage Village.  The contract, including the detective position, was previously ratified by the Board and the union.  If the detective is not performing to the town satisfaction, Manville says the contract reserves the right to replace that person after one year. 

Heritage Village is the state’s largest senior housing complex.  While Southbury has a police department, the first selectman is the police chief.