UPDATE: Scituate Town Council puts Police Chief on administrative leave

July 21, 2019 12:23 pm

By: News Staff

Email: BTaylor@ABC6.com

Twitter: @BTaylorABC6

UPDATE: Police Chief Donald Delaere has been temporarily placed on a paid administrative leave, according to the Scituate Town Council Vice President, Abbie Groves. Deputy Chief Todd Rich is in charge of the department until further notice.

“This action is taken to further review recently received information pertaining to the chief,” Groves said.

ABC6 News exclusively spoke to Delaere about the rocky relationship between him and the Town Council (see below).

**********************************************************

SCITUATE R.I (WLNE) – Scituate Police Chief Donald Delaere told ABC6 NEWS he’s not going anywhere and loves the Police Department and the people he serves. This is after an emergency meeting was canceled to discuss whether the Chief should be placed on administrative leave.

Delaere said he is currently on a 3-year contract that expires on July 1st, 2020.

“I have been here for 22 and a half years. The Town Council wants to try and harass me so I can leave and they put their own person in”, Delaere said in a statement to ABC6.

Delaere claims the Town Council President, James Brady Jr has been harassing him for months and interfering with day-to-day operations at the Police Department.

He also says he spoke with the Town Solicitor on Friday about how this is a breach of contract.

“He can’t direct my employees on what to do. I am the Chief, not him. It was a rocky start but the last month it’s been tumultuous. I am not leaving, I’ve done nothing wrong”.

ABC6 reached out to Town Council President, James Brady Jr who said he’s attorneys advised him not to comment at this time.

**********************************************************

Twitter: BTaylorABC6

Email: BTayylor@ABC6.com

SCITUATE, R.I. (WLNE): The Town of Scituate canceled an emergency meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday to discuss whether the Chief of Police, Donald Delaere, should be placed on administrative leave.

An email was sent to residents who sign up for town emails, about 45 minutes before the meeting.

The meeting was canceled shortly after. Despite the short notice, many showed up for the meeting, which is why residents tell ABC6 News the meeting was canceled. It is not clear whether the meeting approached or met capacity.

“We feel the actions made tonight by our Town Council were inappropriate,” in a statement from the Scituate Democrats. “Residents made an effort to be involved in a matter that affects our entire community and were brushed aside. More to come as this situation develops”

Chief Delaere took to Facebook to respond.