Forest City police department left thin by National Guard call ups

The Forest City Police Department is operating on a bare minimum staff after the National Guard called up two full-time and two reserve officers and the problem could get worse.Three more officers could be called up to duty, leaving only three officers on duty. Chief Doug Book will try to fill the gaps with reserve officers and officers from other towns. Book says he’s proud of his department’s guard participation, which also included “Desert Storm” in 1991.Book and another officer are part of a “Critical Incident Stress Management Team” that’s been put on stand-by to relieve other teams in New York City and Washington, D.C. Book says they’ve decided to go if called.He says they both feel it’s no time to turn their backs on fellow law officers. Book will consult with the Mayor to ensure the city is fully covered before he’d leave for duty in New York or D.C.