New full-time officer

The town of Brookline has a new full-time police officer, raising the number of full-time officers to seven, including the police chief and the sergeant, the second in command in the department.

Selectmen this week approved the appointment of Alan Rice, who has been a part-time officer and animal control officer in the department since 2006.

A Brookline resident, Rice is a 2007 graduate of the 250th part-time police academy run by the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council.

Rice, who was named “Officer of the Quarter” by the department in April 2008, is a member and firearms instructor and safety expert at the Nashua Fish and Game Association.

He holds certification in firearms instruction from the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council, Police Chief Thomas Goulden said.

With the appointment of Rice, the department is left with one part-time officer, although the chief said he expects to hire two additional part-time officers soon.