STOUGHTON, Mass. — Frustration is mounting in Stoughton as residents seek answers about who is currently running the police department and why Police Chief Donna McNamara was removed from her duties.
Dozens of residents packed a Select Board meeting Thursday night, urging town leaders to keep McNamara in charge.
“We want Donna back!” attendees shouted before applauding during the meeting.
Rather than addressing the issue in open session, the Select Board immediately went into executive session with legal counsel.
When asked who is currently leading the department, Select Board member Scott Carrara told Boston 25 News Litsa Pappas that McNamara remains the chief of police, but someone is filling in.
Earlier this week, Stoughton Town Manager Tom Calter announced that McNamara was off the job and that an acting chief had been appointed to replace her.
[ Stoughton police chief says she is victim of smear campaign, alleges she is being forced out ]
McNamara’s attorney has said she was forced out after filing a harassment complaint against Calter.
Residents speaking at Thursday’s meeting expressed outrage over the situation and voiced strong support for McNamara.
“If you even have a difference of opinion with this town manager, he comes after you viciously,” said Stoughton resident Lisa Lyons.
Another resident, Cynthia Walsh, described the situation as “a classic case of a woman in power and men trying to knock her off her pedestal.”
“You can see from the community response, people are appalled,” Walsh said.
Many supporters praised McNamara’s work and pointed to her efforts to reopen the Sandra Birchmore case, which exposed serious concerns within the police department.
“This department has been notorious over the years. Always have bad apples,” resident Peter Ventresco said. “I’m not saying it’s a bad department; it’s a good department, but all it takes is one worm to screw up a whole apple tree, and that’s what happens here all the time. But she is one of the best chiefs we’ve had in a long time, and she should remain here.”
On Thursday, McNamara’s attorney sent a letter to town officials questioning whether she can be removed from her position without a vote of the Select Board.
Asked whether the town manager has the authority to make that decision, Carrara said, “He runs the operation of all the Town Hall stuff and all the departments. We appoint and we can remove, but we don’t hand down any punishment, anything like that, so the town manager has direct control over his departments.”
When asked whether a Select Board vote would be required to discharge McNamara, Carrara responded, “For discharge, he will.”
No vote could be taken Thursday night because two Select Board members were absent from the meeting.
Boston 25 News has reached out to the town manager’s office multiple times for comment but has not received a response.
The situation remains unresolved as residents continue to push for greater transparency from town leaders.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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