Worcester Telegram Article
Brimfield officer resigns
Police Dept. down to 5 part-timers
James F. Russell
CORRESPONDENT
BRIMFIELD- Brimfield, with one of the smallest municipal police departments in the state, saw its force shrink to five part-time employees when Officer Daniel E. McCarthy resigned, effective May 21. No reason was given for Mr. McCarthy's departure.
After last night's selectmen's meeting, Police Chief Charles T. Kuss acknowledged that, "No new officers had been solicited" to replace Officer McCarthy. The Police Department currently consists of a chief, a lieutenant, three patrolmen, and an auxiliary officer.
Chief Kuss said, "many individuals have contacted" the department, but "I have not yet determined the criteria" that would be used to hire additional staff.
The chief did not indicate when or if additional officers would be hired, and was noncommittal when asked if he would rehire some of the officers dismissed by selectmen last July, when a labor dispute engulfed the town.
On the advice of the town's counsel, selectmen did not reappoint the entire officer corps July 1, when their annual terms expired. The officers had voted to form a union in April 2003 - a vote that selectmen refused to recognize a month later.
Several of the officers filed a complaint with the state Labor Relations Commission, accusing selectmen of interfering with union activity, and three of the former officers filed a sexual harassment complaint against former acting Police Chief Robert P. Boucher, which has been referred to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
Selectmen and the former chief deny the allegations. The cases are pending.
Mr. Boucher, 62, became acting chief May 1, 2003, after former Chief John J. Jovan left the force. Mr. Boucher applied for the permanent chief's position, but withdrew after death threats reportedly were made to his home telephone. He left the Brimfield Police Department when selectmen appointed Chief Kuss Aug. 4.
Chief Kuss hired a lieutenant last fall, then five patrolmen in December, but one officer declined the position. Now there are three patrolmen.
Brimfield, a community of approximately 3,500, approved a $78,735 police budget at town meeting last week, which is 1.1 percent of the town's $7 million total operating budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Let the truth be told...Since coming back, Officer McCarthy remained outspoken that he was in favor of the union. GO FIGURE!
Brimfield officer resigns
Police Dept. down to 5 part-timers
James F. Russell
CORRESPONDENT
BRIMFIELD- Brimfield, with one of the smallest municipal police departments in the state, saw its force shrink to five part-time employees when Officer Daniel E. McCarthy resigned, effective May 21. No reason was given for Mr. McCarthy's departure.
After last night's selectmen's meeting, Police Chief Charles T. Kuss acknowledged that, "No new officers had been solicited" to replace Officer McCarthy. The Police Department currently consists of a chief, a lieutenant, three patrolmen, and an auxiliary officer.
Chief Kuss said, "many individuals have contacted" the department, but "I have not yet determined the criteria" that would be used to hire additional staff.
The chief did not indicate when or if additional officers would be hired, and was noncommittal when asked if he would rehire some of the officers dismissed by selectmen last July, when a labor dispute engulfed the town.
On the advice of the town's counsel, selectmen did not reappoint the entire officer corps July 1, when their annual terms expired. The officers had voted to form a union in April 2003 - a vote that selectmen refused to recognize a month later.
Several of the officers filed a complaint with the state Labor Relations Commission, accusing selectmen of interfering with union activity, and three of the former officers filed a sexual harassment complaint against former acting Police Chief Robert P. Boucher, which has been referred to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
Selectmen and the former chief deny the allegations. The cases are pending.
Mr. Boucher, 62, became acting chief May 1, 2003, after former Chief John J. Jovan left the force. Mr. Boucher applied for the permanent chief's position, but withdrew after death threats reportedly were made to his home telephone. He left the Brimfield Police Department when selectmen appointed Chief Kuss Aug. 4.
Chief Kuss hired a lieutenant last fall, then five patrolmen in December, but one officer declined the position. Now there are three patrolmen.
Brimfield, a community of approximately 3,500, approved a $78,735 police budget at town meeting last week, which is 1.1 percent of the town's $7 million total operating budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Let the truth be told...Since coming back, Officer McCarthy remained outspoken that he was in favor of the union. GO FIGURE!
