Tucked between debate over zoning changes, school district funding and city employee bonuses, Franklin leaders made clear they have full faith in Police Chief David Goldstein and City Manager Judie Milner at a time when some residents are calling for their resignations. 

After a recent vote of no confidence by members of the police union indicated concerns with Goldstein, Lieutenant Daniel Poirier, Lieutenant Ralph Hale Jr., Sergeant Daniel Ball and Milner, Mayor Jo Brown and city council members remained unified in their support for the current leadership. 

“We will continue to be a very strong city, fully behind our city manager and our police chief,” said Brown. 

After union members made public their vote at the end of February, other city employees rallied around the chief and city manager, providing flowers for Milner and treats for Goldstein. 

“When we have as strong a team as we do and they all are there for each other, that is what makes us strong and that is what gets us through,” said Brown. 

With public comments, community members also vocalized their support for the chief – citing his credentials and efforts at collaboration. 

Stephanie Wolff, who oversees Franklin Partners in Prevention, said she had full confidence in the chief after working with him on the city’s Drug Task Force. 

“He’s a remarkable member of the task force,” she said.

Christine Dzjuna, the director of the Drug Task Force, said her experience working with Goldstein falls into numerous categories. As a planning board member, superintendent of the check list and library trustee, she’s collaborated with Goldstein on various projects throughout his tenure. 

“I mention these commitments because they are relevant to my total confidence in our Police Chief David Goldstein and his department,” she said.

Dzjnua, whose husband is City Councilor George Dzjuna in Ward 1, cited events like the Choose Franklin Community Day, National Night Out, drug take back day, fall festival and holiday stroll, that require police support to happen. 

“There has never been a time when Chief Goldstein and his staff were not in complete support of these events,” she said. 

She also praised the department's help on election days, ensuring that all polling locations are safe. 

“I am without hesitation confident in police chief, David Goldstein, and his department,” she said. “I thank them for all they do for the city of Franklin.” 

Her husband echoed similar sentiments from his city council seat, reading a statement of support for Goldstein during the council acknowledgments. 

“Chief Goldstein has proven time and time again, that he is totally committed to transparency, accountability, fairness, and to provide professional law enforcement service,” he said. “We all know he is a superior leader and cares a great deal about the health, welfare and safety of his personnel as well as the citizens of Franklin.”

Dzjuna pointed to Goldstein’s four decades of experience with New Hampshire State Police, prior to assuming the role of Franklin Police Chief in 2009. 

That experience is what certifies Goldstein to help train other departments, said City Councilor Jay Chandler in Ward 1. 

“He’s always more than willing to step forward and help the city. I know he loves Franklin. I back him 100 percent and I also have full confidence in the city manager as well,” Chandler said. 

The Franklin Police Patrolman’s Association, the unionized members of the department, made public their dissatisfaction with the chief and other department members in February, according to Jacob Drouin, an officer and union president. 

When the vote was taken in December, it was the first time the union had met outside of contract negotiations since Drouin joined the department in 2016, he said. 

“Throughout the years we and more so recently we have had concerns with Chief Goldstein’s leadership and direction or lack thereof,” members wrote in their statement of no-confidence. “Chief Goldstein’s absentee leadership has directly led to the retaliatory and unjust treatment of union members by subordinate leadership or himself.” 

The statement also denounced Milner, who was aware of allegations of retaliation and mistreatment from staff, they said. 

At the time of the vote, eleven union members were active in the department. Three have since left. 

The public vote of no confidence coincided with continued turmoil in Franklin over the police response to white supremacist attacks and graffiti in the city. 

After a white nationalist group targeted an Asian-fusion restaurant known as the Broken Spoon, owner Miriam Kovacs criticized Franklin police and city officials on social media for not doing enough. 

Goldstein took to Facebook himself last month, defending his department and publicly denouncing Kovacs’ complaints. 

Mark Faro, a former Franklin officer who is dating Kovacs, resigned earlier in February citing retaliation and intimidation during his time in the department. 

In December, Goldstein wrote to Faro with concerns over his relationship. 

“I realize that your relationship with Ms. Kovacs presents you with a conundrum, however the challenges presented by your affiliation with Ms. Kovacs are unacceptable as they exist and the solution is completely up to you,” the letter read. “The purpose of progressive discipline is to assist a department member with recognizing their errant behavior and work toward acceptable change.”

His time in the department ended with his removal from specialty units and an internal investigation launched against him. Faro now works at Plymouth State University. 

Drouin is the subject of an internal investigation, which was launched the night prior to the union meeting, leaving him unable to participate. City officials have said that investigation prevents them from commenting further aside from reassuring their support for Milner and Goldstein. 

The chief and city manager are not under investigation. 

“We haven’t got all the facts yet. So I would ask, let our city, who is supporting very well our manager and our police chief, to get through the process,” Brown said. 

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