Whitman Police Chief
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Town officials show embattled Whitman police chief the door
By Tom Farmer
Thursday, February 10, 2005
John R. Schnyer's days as Whitman's police chief are numbered as multiple sources confirmed yesterday he plans to retire rather than face discipline by the town over allegations he had sex with a minor three decades ago.
``He's definitely out,'' said one Whitman source familiar with the situation. ``He's not coming back. This is a save-face situation.''
Schnyer, who was granted an ``extended vacation leave'' Tuesday, offered to retire after town officials informed him they planned to place him on administrative leave and conduct an investigation into allegations brought by Michele Post, 43, that she had a long-term sexual relationship with Schnyer beginning when she was 14, sources said.
Post brought the allegations last fall to Plymouth County investigators, who determined the alleged rapes fell outside the statute of limitations. The rape probe has been turned over to the Bristol County district attorney for an independent investigation, said Bridget Middleton, a spokeswoman for Plymouth DA Timothy Cruz.
Although Schnyer has repeatedly denied he had sex with Post, the Herald first reported last October that two probate judges concluded he did have a sexual relationship with her as part of a paternity suit Post brought against Schnyer in the late 1980s.
Schnyer has also been dogged by Herald reports dating back to July that said he is renting a home to a convicted child molester, put a lottery-won low number license plate on his unmarked cruiser in violation of RMV regulations, and tried to collect some 400 days in unused vacation and sick time in apparent violation of his contract.
Sources said if Schnyer balks at his promise to retire the town will move to discipline or fire him.