WOODSTOCK, Vt. — A judge is being asked to prevent the town from appointing a new police chief as Joe Swanson, recently demoted from his position, seeks to regain his former title. This legal battle began during a video hearing on Monday, marking the latest development in an ongoing dispute over Swanson’s employment status.
Linda Fraas, Swanson’s attorney, emphasized the significance of this hearing, stating it represents the first impartial examination of the circumstances surrounding her client’s demotion. Swanson was moved from chief to patrol officer earlier this year amid allegations of misconduct raised by the Woodstock Village Board of Trustees during a public meeting in March.
The board has now expressed intentions to permanently fill the chief position. However, Fraas is pushing for an injunction to halt this process while her client appeals his demotion. “The municipal manager ought to be afforded the discretion and authority to do that,” countered John Klesch, representing the town manager.
Swanson has been with the Woodstock Police Department for 25 years, ascending to chief in 2023. The allegations against him stem from an internal investigation initiated in October, which reportedly found that he inconsistently arrived at work, disregarded staff concerns, failed to wear the required police uniform regularly, and tended to personal matters during hours on duty.
The investigation was partly triggered by a road rage incident involving Swanson’s husband and another local resident while Swanson was a passenger in the vehicle. Following his demotion, Swanson filed a $5 million lawsuit against several town officials, asserting that the situation has severely impacted his career.
Although the focus of Monday’s hearing was not on the lawsuit, the judge’s ruling on the injunction is anticipated to take several weeks. A temporary restraining order was issued, preventing the town from employing a new chief during the judicial process.
Fraas criticized what she called a lack of accountability in the town’s actions. “Up until now, there has been no restrictions placed on the abuse of power that has occurred in the town,” she remarked, defending the need for legal procedures in this case.
Regardless of the appeal’s outcome, Fraas stated that the lawsuit would proceed, although she acknowledged damages would likely be lower should Swanson reclaim his position.
This complex situation underscores the tension between municipal authority and the rights of individual employees, especially in cases involving allegations of misconduct in public office.
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