The Campton Police Department was, prior to March 1990, a part-time department with an elected part-time chief. At town meeting 1990, the town voted to have a department comprised of a full-time appointed chief and a full-time appointed first officer. The first appointed chief was Paul K. Chase, Jr. and past chief Christopher Warn was appointed as first officer. Past elected chiefs include: Riley “Dick” Strong, Arthur T. Kindell, Donald “Shorty” McKinnon, and Lester Mitchell. Due to its convenient location on Interstate 93, many travelers spend time in Campton. Over the years, many have relocated here. In the years since the appointed Department began, we have expanded to appropriately respond to the many diverse needs of our growing community.
A third officer position was added in 1996 and the fourth, originally financed by a Federal COPSFAST program, began in 1998. The Department currently has seven full-time officers, a full-time prosecutor, and a full time administrative assistant, and provides coverage for the town 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The business office is open from 8:30AM – 4:30PM, Monday thru Friday. The current police station was completed on January 28, 2013 and is located within the Municipal Building at 12 Gearty Way.
The changing of road names in Campton for the 911 system enabled (Ret.) Chief Warn to receive permission to honor a local NH State Trooper and friend of the community, Trooper Joseph Gearty. Joe was tragically killed in November 1989 along with Trooper Gary Parker, while enroute to the Grafton County Jail transporting an arrest made in Campton.