February 7th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

At a time when the  number of arrests and incidents of violent crime are on the rise in Cumberland- Police Chief Chuck Ternent is dealing with a significant staffing shortage. The department target is 51 police officers-  however Ternent told members of the City Council during a budget presentation that currently he is down to just 40 officers. Ternent says the hope is that two new hires can be made in the near future from the police academy- but until that time he will have to juggle existing personnel as efficiently as possible…