Residents fighting back after board votes to oust police chief of 16 years

MILFORD, Mass. — Residents are rallying after Milford's Board of Selectmen voted not to renew Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin's contract after his more than 16 years on the job.

For nearly 40 years, he's been a police officer and spent the last 16 as chief of the Milford Police Department, but two weeks ago, O'Loughlin says he got blindsided by the Milford Board of Selectmen.

"Certainly unexpected. Chief O'Loughlin's been here a great number of years," said O'Loughlin's attorney, Ernest Horn.

While the chief thought he was in the midst of negotiating a new contract, the Milford Board of Selectmen had decided otherwise.

"Selectmen Buckley and Kincaid voting in favor and myself voting against not to renew the contract of police chief."

That two-to-one vote announced as the board's October 1 meeting, was taken behind closed doors without any public input.

The public, however, is weighing in now.

"Everybody's got a story to tell about something the chief has done for them," said resident Mike Johnson.

Johnson has only lived in Milford for two years, but even he has a story.

"He stood in our kitchen after the passing of my brother-in-law and offered his condolences and if he could do anything for us and that meant a lot to us," said Johnson.

Johnson started a petition drive to keep the chief. It's now up to nearly $2,000 signatures.

"To have something good in this town I don't understand how they can take it away without even discussing it with him," said resident Amy Kurzontkowski.

In an effort to open up discussions, O'Loughlin's attorney sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen late Monday afternoon demanding any and all documents, data, both electronic and hard copies, that may be relevant to any action related to the employment of Chief Thomas O'Loughlin.

"Based on the outcry from the community and what we're hearing out there on the streets I think if everyone just gives the board an opportunity let them re-evaluate their position and I suspect they're going to do the right thing," said Horn.

Boston 25 News reporter Jim Morelli reached out to all board members to ask why they voted the way they did, but he did not hear back.

Residents in favor of keeping the chief pressured town meeting members in a town hall meeting on Monday night.

Vocal supporters with signs and online petitions made their voices heard as they attempt to keep police chief Thomas O'Loughlin on the job.

The attorney representing the board told Boston 25 News there's nothing keeping the chief from continuing to try and negotiate a new contract.

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