Chief Sues Town, Group Wants Selectman Recalled: Milford Beef

MILFORD, MA—With small-town politics erupting into war just in time for the holidays, embattled Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin is firing back against the town after his contract wasn't renewed.

In a lawsuit seeking $510,000, O'Loughlin alleges selectmen William Kingkade Jr. and William Buckley damaged his reputation when the board voted 2 to 1 in executive session Sept. 17 not to renew his contract. The chief is also demanding the vote be deemed "null and void" and that no further action be taken by selectmen to find a new chief.

O'Loughlin has been the town's top cop since 2002 and hits mandatory retirement age of 65 in three years.

Speaking through attorneys, the town and O'Loughlin are at odds with the vote, which would end the chief's 17-year tenure next June.

"I have not received any communication from their attorneys that they have withdrawn from contact negotiations and moved forward with searching for a new chief, which is why we filed the documents [for the lawsuit]," O'Loughlin's lawyer Ernie Horn told Milford Patch on Sunday.
Shortly after the decision not to renew the chief's contract, resident Michael Holmes created a petition opposing the decision. It has since closed and reached 2,301 signatures.

"The residents of Milford have not been provided any information in reference as to why the decision has been made to not renew the contract of a chief of police who has served the residents of this fine town with dignity, respect and selfless service," wrote Holmes, in the petition to selectmen.

"Respectfully, this is a personnel matter," Chris Brown, the lawyer representing the town, told Patch in October. "Although the chief is a public official, the board as the chief's employer is still limited in what it can say and what information can be provided."

With nearly 325 members, some Milford residents have created a Recall Selectman William Kingkade Facebook group; its goal is to push through an effort to recall the selectman. Facebook page administrator, resident and petition creator Mike Johnson told Patch he has also submitted an affidavit to recall Kingkade. The Recall Facebook page was started on Oct. 17 by Milford resident Nick Taddeo.

"Taddeo started the page to spread awareness of the numerous issues and controversy surrounding Selectman Kingkade and to address the reasons as to why a recall is necessary," Johnson told Patch.

Although Buckley and Kingkade are named in the lawsuit, only Kingkade is targeted in the recall.

"The way the bylaw is written, would make it extremely difficult to recall both selectmen," said Johnson. "We as a group decided that given Selectman Kingkade's recent transgressions, his vote against renewing the chief's contract and his dishonesty to the people of Milford, it was best to push for a recall of Selectman Kingkade. We have been approached by numerous residents through this process asking the same question, and we have advised of the Recall By-Law and how difficult it would be to go after both."

Johnson added that the recall effort was started prior to the lawsuit being filed by O'Loughlin.

"Both selectmen are habitually costing the taxpayers of Milford more money," said Johnson. "A recall election will cost the town even more money and the right thing for them to do is to resign. We will not stop calling for their resignation. The process of initiating a recall effort is intricate and detailed."

Johnson said he wrote the affidavit for recall and has forwarded it to his legal representation for review before filing.

"We listed nine grievances as to why we are recalling Selectman Kingkade on the affidavit," said Johnson. "The moment the affidavit is filed, the clock starts to obtain signatures. We have 20 days from the filing to collect the signatures of no less than 20 percent or 3,699 registered voters in Milford. The deck has been stacked against this effort and those who oppose our effort have tried every possible way to suppress the petition signing, which is a violation of the law and says so right on the petition."

Chris Brown, attorney for the town of Milford, declined to comment. By press time, Kingkade had responded to requests for comment. This story will be updated should more information become available.

Photo via Milford Police Department

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