Milford Police Chief Files Discrimination Complaint Against Town

MILFORD, MA—An attorney for the Milford police chief has filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination as it relates to the Board of Selectmen's 2-1 decision not to renew the chief's contract.

The complaint was issued on Friday, according to Ernie Horn, attorney for Milford Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin, and alleges that Selectman William Buckley in a Board of Selectmen meeting alluded to O'Loughlin's age as a factor in the decision.

The move follows a lawsuit filed last week in which O'Loughlin alleges selectmen William Kingkade Jr. and 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.

If the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination should find that the town's decision not to renew O'Loughlin's contract was based, even in part, on his age or any disability, it can require the town to rescind the decision, explained Horn.

In the complaint, it alleges that Buckley, in a board meeting on Oct. 1, made a remark after noting that his vote was to not renew the contact that included, "I know he was running against statutory limits that would have precluded, in the near-term, age preventing him from going forward. That's not quite there yet, but a couple of years away, I think, with my last count."

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

In a hand-written statement in the discrimination complaint, O'Loughlin states, "In 1960, I was inflicted with polio. As a result of the paralysis I suffered the loss of my quadricep muscle in my right leg. These facts and conditions were known and are known by my employer and each of the respondents. These disabilities remain today."

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"I have not received any communication from their attorneys that they have withdrawn from contact negotiations and moved forward with searching for a new chief, which is why we filed the documents [for the lawsuit]," O'Loughlin's lawyer Ernie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.

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.

See also:

>>>Battle Brews Over Board's Decision Not To Renew Chief's Contract

>>>Chief Sues Town, Group Wants Selectman Recalled: Milford Beef

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