The Kidder Township police department is undergoing a few changes in personnel. Full-time officer Horace Woodside has put in for retirement, leaving a full-time slot open in the department.

The police union is scheduled to begin contract arbitration in February and it looks like the township is awaiting the outcome before moving ahead with a full-time replacement for Woodside.In the meantime the supervisors agreed to hire new part-time officer Andrew Bouch. Bouch is a recent academy graduate and is from Bangor."I have all of his records and he graduated at the top of his class," said Police Chief Matt Kuzma. "He will be a great addition to our department. We can always use good part-time officers."Kuzma also asked the supervisors to increase the starting rate for part-time officers to $16.75 per hour, with a raise to $17 per hour after 500 hours of service. The supervisors agreed to the raise.Kuzma also told the supervisors that an anonymous donation has been made to the department in the amount of $2,500. The donation will be used to purchase 11 new SIG Sauer 9 mm handguns and holsters. The department's current weapons are 15 years old.