Mission
The Orford Police Department’s mission is to provide professional and compassionate police service through partnerships that build trust, reduce crime, create a safe environment and enhance the quality of life in our community.
With the weather cooperating and the summer arriving, I believe it is a good time to reiterate the rules at Indian Pond Beach. They are:
1. No open fires allowed
2. No pets allowed
3. No littering
4. No shampoo or soap allowed
5. No alcoholic beverages allowed
6. Indian pond Beach shall be closed to the public from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am
Violations of the above can lead to removal from the beach and/or a municipal violation fine. Repeated violations can include a no trespass order which a subsequent violation could lead to a criminal arrest.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask and the beach is open to ORFORD and PIERMONT residents and guests in their presence ONLY.
Notes from the Chief of Police
Per state law (NH RSA’s 207:3-a, 207:3-c, and 644:13), you may not shoot across or within 15 feet of a road, or “within 300 feet of a permanently occupied dwelling without permission of the owner or the occupant of the dwelling or from the owner of the land on which the person discharging the firearm or shooting the bow and arrow is situated.”
You also may not discharge a firearm within the “compact part of a town or city,” defined as “the territory within a town or city comprised of the following:
(a) Any nonresidential, commercial building, including, but not limited to, industrial, educational, or medical buildings, plus a perimeter 300 feet wide around all such buildings without permission of the owner.
(b) Any park, playground, or other outdoor public gathering place designated by the legislative body of the city or town.
(c) Any contiguous area containing 6 or more buildings which are used as either part- time or permanent dwellings and the spaces between them where each such building is within 300 feet of at least one of the others, plus a perimeter 300 feet wide around all the buildings in such area.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Contact & Hours
POLICE DEPARTMENT – the Police Department is located in the Town Office
Jason Bachus, Chief of Police
Office #603-353-4252
Fax #603-353-4251
email: [email protected]
Emergency and Upper Valley Ambulance Dial 9-1-1
ANIMAL CONTROL
603-353-4252 or 603-353-4889
or on Weekends contact Lost and Found Pets of the Upper Valley
ANIMAL CONTROL INFORMATION
The Town of Orford does not have a designated Animal Control Officer, therefore Orford PD takes on that roll. The police department and the town clerk’s office work in conjunction to ensure that all state RSAs governing animal control issues and subsequent fines are followed.
Dog licenses are issued by the Office of the Town Clerk. Licenses are issued on a yearly basis. Regardless of when the license is issued to the dog owner, all licenses expire on April 30 of the following year. Per the State of New Hampshire, all dogs must be licensed by May 1 of each year unless the dog is under four months of age, or, after the dog has received its first veterinarian certified rabies vaccination, whichever comes first. The dog in question must have a valid and current rabies vaccination prior to being licensed.
Although it would seem that dog complaints are the most prevalent, OPD also responds or assists with livestock and wildlife, as availability allows. In regard to wildlife issues, the NH Fish & Game Department has primary responsibility and questions and/or concerns regarding such, please contact the NH Fish & Game Department at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/ or at (603) 271-3421.
Please be advised that we do NOT catch or set traps for feral cats in most instances. If you have taken in a feral cat, it is now your responsibility; whether you decide to keep it or bring it to a local shelter for placement. The Town of Orford does have a current contract with the NH Humane Society located Enfield, NH to accept strays and surrenders from Town Residents. Even so, there are several great shelters within the state that can assist anyone with further questions and/or recommendations. OPD does have a “Have a Heart” trap available for residents use.
