Stoughton town manager, police chief, placed on paid leave after select board meeting
STOUGHTON, Mass. —
Both the town manager and police chief in Stoughton, Massachusetts, have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an independent investigation after a week of fiery accusations, which included a harassment lawsuit.
“Today’s actions are intended to establish a fair and impartial independent process for reviewing the allegations presented in the complaints against the police chief and the town manager,” said Joseph Mokrisky, the chairman of the Stoughton Select Board.
The board met in a closed-door meeting Wednesday night to discuss the ongoing dispute between Town Manager Tom Calter and police chief Donna McNamara.
The decision was met with jeers and chants of “recall” by residents in attendance.
“Disappointed but thankful for all the supporters that I’ve had over the last three weeks, and I’m just thankful to be a part of this community,” said McNamara.
“We are obviously disappointed with the decision tonight,” said Leah Barrault, McNamara’s attorney. “It’s been three long weeks for Chief McNamara so she’s been hopeful she was going to return to duty tonight. We are still not in receipt of any information about the complaint against her… that said, whatever investigation goes forward, Chief McNamara intends to comply with it fully.”
NewsCenter 5 has reached out several times to Calter for comment, but has not received a response. He was not seen at the meeting on Wednesday night.
Watch below: Stoughton Select Board places police chief, town manager on leave
McNamara had previously entered the meeting to a standing ovation from town residents. Many in the crowd held signs of support for her and wore orange t-shirts that read, “I support Chief McNamara.”
The ongoing controversy between McNamara and Calter reached a boiling point when McNamara filed a harassment and discrimination lawsuit against the town manager.
In the lawsuit, she alleges that Calter has been harassing her and waging a smear campaign to force her out of her position because she is a woman.
Barrault also alleges the town issued a false statement weeks ago, claiming McNamara voluntarily stepped down from her position as chief.
The town of Stoughton has said it doesn’t comment on personnel issues.
In a news release on Tuesday, Stoughton Firefighters Local 1512 Union President Derek Stukey said he, along with other union members, have experienced “many of the same fear and intimidation tactics” that McNamara has allegedly gone through with Calter.
“The behavior she is alleging from the town manager is something that the firefighters of Stoughton have been dealing with for years with no relief,” he said.
Stukey claimed Calter threatened to fire union leadership at a recent town meeting after they reported a firefighter was injured by a piece of equipment.
The union said it filed a case with the state’s Department of Labor Relations against the town manager.