By NANCY WEST, InDepthNH.org
The Wolfeboro police union has denounced their former chief’s behavior as detailed in an internal investigation into a complaint about misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ postings on social media and in staff conversations that was filed by an unidentified person in April.
The investigation by Municipal Resources Inc. found former Police Chief Dean Rondeau routinely disparaged women, gay and transgender people on Facebook and in conversations with staff, according to its 28-page heavily redacted report. The full report can be read here: https://indepthnh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Confidential-MRI-Investigation-Report-06-20-23-REDACTED-2.pdf
Wolfeboro Police Sgt. Patrick Spera, president of NEPBA Local 39, issued a statement Tuesday detailing members’ negative feelings about Rondeau.
“We, the members of NEPBA Local #39 (Wolfeboro Police Sergeants, Officers and Dispatchers) vehemently denounce the behaviors and actions of former Police Chief Dean Rondeau as recently outlined in the investigation conducted by Municipal Resources Inc.
“We, as members of the Wolfeboro Police Department, pride ourselves on a commitment to serving and protecting our town. We are first responders, strictly committed to the well-being of the agency as a whole, so that we may continue to provide the greatest level of service to all members of our community,” Spera wrote in an email to InDepthNH.org.
After the town ordered the review of Rondeau’s behavior and he was placed on paid leave, Rondeau retired soon after.
But last week he told InDepthNH.org that he has been harmed and is looking into his options with his attorney.
“I do feel I have been harmed. We’ll see where this goes. We’re keeping our options open,” Rondeau said.
Some officers interviewed during the investigation described the Wolfeboro Police Department under Rondeau’s leadership as a divided toxic work place that included favoritism, one officer responding to an unattended death scene unable to get backup and other allegations beyond the original misogyny and homophobic allegations, according to the report.
“Witnesses of every rank at the Wolfeboro Police Department describe a long-occurring pattern of misconduct by former chief Dean Rondeau,” the report said.
“There is ample evidence to suggest that there has been a systemic breakdown of effective leadership of the Wolfeboro Police Department resulting in an unacceptable workplace culture,” the report said.
The report quoted Rondeau as saying during his investigation interview: “Just because I’m chief of police doesn’t mean I give up my first amendment rights to kind of poke fun at what’s going on. A lot of that stuff is satirical.”