Posted on 02/19/2020 6:04:09 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Police Chief Richard Lee said he was forced to leave Town Hall in his underwear Tuesday after the board of selectmen voted to dissolve the town’s one-man police department.
“I was told that I had to turn over the keys to the cruiser and my uniform immediately. I had no other means of transportation, as the cruiser is a take-home vehicle, and I have no spare clothes in the office, so I did as ordered,” Lee said Wednesday.
Lee said he started walking toward his home in Newport during a snowstorm wearing boots, a hat and his underwear, before his wife picked him up.
“Someone called my wife... but I probably made it about three quarters of a mile before she got there,” he said.
Lee said he complied with the board’s requests for everything except access to evidence and other police records.
Lee, who was employed by the town of 700 for about 20 years, was its prosecutor as well as its only police officer. It is unclear whether criminal cases can be followed through in his absence.
Select board chair Russell Edwards said Tuesday’s decision to eliminate the police department was an economic one.
“We didn’t feel we were getting the value for our money,” Edwards said.
At last year’s Town Meeting, the board of selectmen put a surprise warrant article on the ballot to eliminate the police department and sign a $55,000 a year contract with the Newport police department. At the time, Lee’s department was estimated to cost the town about $40,000 a year.
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at unionleader.com ...
It would have at least followed the cartoon cliché, if they had given him a barrel and a pair of suspenders. Sheesh.
When crimes start happening, don’t call Mr. Lee.
I can’t believe this story is real.
Why didn't you call your wife, dimbulb? Trying to make a point? F.O.
Got a guy at work from that area - gonna ask if it’s family of his :-D
Lay somebody off, ok. DO NOT humiliate people when doing so. Real bad idea.
One of the council members could have offered to drive him home. And they could have waited for the uniform.
I’d refuse to leave. “I’ll wear these home and bring them back later.” What are they going to do? Call the police?
Since the towns people came to his defense last time I tend to believe more honest than not.
Too late to arrest himself for undie exposure
Fair enough for them to disband the department. But he must not of been much of a cop if someone said give me your clothes and he just stripped them off. Any cop worthy of the name woulda said he would return it tomorrow and dared anyone to try to take it off him.
Sounds like he must’ve been a wuss
The story is real. We were talking about it at work in Newport, NH today.
And they could have waited for the uniform.
What kind of wuss let them take it? Nobody anywhere with a spine would strip because the employer says he wants the clothes back.
Tell them you’ll bring it back tomorrow. If they make a move, punch the first one who tries right in the face.
In case you think you had a bad day . . .
Assuming the guy was an honest cop he made a good decision, he went out with a bang.
Otherwise who would have even heard about how unfairly he was treated?
Must be Common Core math.
At least he didn’t have to worry about being arrested.
Now let me see if I have this right:
It was a money-saving move because the town police department cost $40K per year so that they signed a contract with Newport for $55K per year to ‘save money’?
That whole council must be a bunch of dimbulbs! ROFL
“When crimes start happening, don’t call Mr. Lee...”
Call Mr. Lee...
He’ll know the code is broken.
Tell him the dog is turning red.
(sorry, couldn’t resist) :P
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