Nov

19

2011

Hooksett Police Commission Flashback

by Steve MacDonald

The problems with the Hooksett New Hampshire Police Department have served as media fodder for years.  A combative chief, a pointless middle management police commission unwilling to act, all culminating in a report that substantiates something I pointed out over two and one-half years ago.

Given the history the commissions willingness to disregard this new complaint are troubling.  There is clearly a pattern developing with this Police Chief.  But the commissions seems to be operating from the standard entrenched bureaucracy position–ignore it, hide it, dismiss it on technicalities, obfuscate, and hope it goes away.  It’s not so much that the man is guilty or innocent, its that the commission can’t be bothered, and it’s always easier to try and hide problems than confront them.

Despite 10 or more complaints about Chief Stephen Agrafiotis back in 2009 the commission lacked the bureaucratic stones to act.  This precedent continued while things got worse, leading up to an effort to eliminate the commission, annual budget battles over costs and legal fees generated by the actions of the Police Department, a series of lawsuits, and the administrative leave of the Chief.

Today’s press reveals some details of a department audit that revealed poor communication, low officer and department morale, and problems with community outreach.  These are all the hallmarks of a chief who created a little fiefdom and proceeded to intimidate everyone into letting him do whatever he wanted.

At present, the town seems on the road to recovery.  The independent audit gives them a way to make the changes they need to to get past this chapter in the towns history.  But will they do it?

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by Steve MacDonald

Steve is a New Hampshire resident, blogger and activist. He is a husband, Dad, homeowner, info junkie & dog lover who works a day job, and is also starting a small business. He is a member of the Coalition of New Hampshire taxpayers, is on the board of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, has done political radio, and currently helps to produce GrokTALK! and GrokTV!.

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  • http://www.GraniteGrok.com Richard Olson Jr.

    “The independent audit gives them a way to make the changes they need to to get past this chapter in the towns history. But will they do it?

    I say “no”…and, I think you may have answered your own question in the opening paragraph…

    “[T]he commission lacked the bureaucratic stones to act.”

    And, I think they, still lack the stones….Time will tell.

  • Doug Lambert

    We were in a similar situation here in Gilford with out entrenched chief who retired (you can find him near the top of the infamous NH retirement list) and was then promptly made Town Administrator… until a new group of selectmen got the cajones one day (with a little help ;-) and fired his ass. He ended up with a healthy “settlement” (paid from Municipal Assoc self-funded ins)– but it was worth EVERY last penny to finally be rid of the would-be Fuhrer.

  • Steve Mac Donald

    This is a big mess. The officers can’t do their jobs properly with all the internal BS. The towns people suffer because the officers are constantly stressed by management. Civilian government–the police commission–is just trying to cover its own back side. It reeks of intentional divisiveness, a tactic weak minds use to make themselves look powerful or above it all. And intimidation to keep anyone from doing anything to fix it.(Kind of like Obama.) It always ends badly. But the audit was the first sign that there is a desire to fix it.

    The UL has put in an FOIA request to publish the findings. Lets hope that works out. Having the laundry aired in public may create the very kind of embarrassment they have been hoping to avoid but that is long needed to facilitate real reform.

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