Not sure they were better off with a police department, if this is the Chief... Talk about stupid.
I think his walking home in his skivvies was a rather clever and appropriate form of protest.
Rather, the only ones who are acting insensible are the powers (two of out the 3 were not even elected) that went against the will of the majority which had protested the last attempt to fire the chief and forced them to reverse the decision. They cited saving $50,000 as the reason for doing so, while wanting to pay 55,000 to another PO department.
And thus the walk home was a manly protest which served to expose (no pun intended) the action due to the action of the chief. So it makes the selectmen look foolish. Or worse. Wait till the next actual election of them.
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.
Selectmen Gary Quimby and Reagan Clarke resigned in the ensuing public outcry, leaving Joe Marko to appoint Ian Underwood in an emergency meeting. The two later appointed Edwards....Edwards said he is new to town and wasn’t paying attention to the issue last year. I don’t recall enough about it,” Edwards said.
Voters forced the board to hold a Special Town Meeting in May, at which the decision to dissolve the department was reversed by a 121-to-51 vote
Lee, who was employed by the town of 700 for about 20 years, was its prosecutor as well as its only police officer.
Edwards said the town is paying closer to $50,000 when fuel and telephone costs are included. Lee works a part-time, 32-hour a week schedule, and state troopers already patrol the town when Lee is off duty, he said.
Lee and board members have been at odds for years. Before last year’s town meeting vote, Quimby and the board hired an outside firm to investigate the department. The current board has refused to make the completed report public.
Last year, Lee complained about the new police radio the board bought for his cruiser, saying the unit was weak and did not work. Lee said he was in danger without a functioning radio. Pressured by residents, the board eventually bought a more powerful unit. https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/state/croydon-police-chief-walks-home-in-underwear-after-firing/article_9956b976-e436-5cc0-9f6f-2efa471adcc5.html
"Some citizens offered to give me a ride home and I said, 'Nope it's not your responsibility to do that. This is something the selectboard did, this should be all on them. There was no offer from the selectboard to give a ride home," Lee said. https://www.mynbc5.com/article/police-department-disbanded-chief-protests-by-walking-home-in-underwear/31006812