The Police Commission’s plans to hire a person to fill vacancy for a police patrol officer position have been delayed, with that hiring now expected to occur in January.

The person would fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Steven Santucci, 38, a sergeant who left town service after being arrested on multiple federal drug charges last April. Mr Santucci has pleaded not guilty to the eight charges, which are pending in US District Court in Hartford.

Police officials had expected to hire a person this month, but those plans fell through, Police Chief Michael Kehoe told Police Commission members October 6.

In the past, the police department has conducted its own police officer candidate testing process to find new staff members. In the current hiring cycle, however, police have been reviewing centralized pools of candidates compiled for municipal police positions.

The Police Commission authorized hiring a new person soon after Mr Santucci resigned.

When Chief Kehoe retires from the police department in early January, it will create another police officer vacancy at the department.

The department’s full complement is 45 sworn officers.