Loudon police Chief Kris Burgess made no attempt to hide his feelings from former police chief and selectman Bob Fiske on Tuesday night.
“I’m disappointed, I’m embarrassed, and, as a department head, I’m disgusted,” Burgess said.
This was the chief’s response to select board chairman Bob Krieger’s announcement that Goffstown police officer Emily Crosby turned down an offer to join the Loudon Police Department as a full-time officer.
Crosby was last addressed at a meeting two weeks ago when she met the board. Burgess explained that the candidate had six years of experience, had won awards for her work, was involved in the community, and came highly recommended.
While Krieger was ready to sign the paperwork for her hire, Fiske was not – meeting minutes show he wanted to go over Crosby’s background before making a decision.
Both decided to sign the paper hiring Crosby with the caveat that Fiske would review her information.
Steve Ives, the third selectman, was not present for the meeting.
Burgess, who explained he was trying to fill two open full-time positions quickly, shared his displeasure at that Feb. 8 meeting. He said Fiske was “undermining and micro-managing” him.
While Burgess tried to engage Fiske, the selectman told Burgess he didn’t want to discuss the issue in a public session, adding, “when he gets vocal it will be in a nonpublic session because of what his feelings are and what has been going on.”
Fiske retired from the Loudon Police Department in September 2015 after serving as chief for 44 years. He began there in 1969 as a 21-year-old, part-time chief, and eventually built up the department to six full-time officers, four part-time officers, an administrative assistant and a dispatcher.
In March 2016, town residents voted to hire a full-time chief for the department. Less than a year into the role, Burgess is butting heads with his predecessor.
The first sign showed up in January meeting minutes, where Fiske voted against Burgess’s suggested hire, Pittsfield police Chief Jeffery Cain, for a part-time position. Ives and Krieger both voted in favor.
After running into resistance with another hire – Crosby – and losing her in the process, Burgess confronted Fiske for a second time Tuesday night.
“Her mother was a former (selectwoman), and she’s disgusted,” Burgess said. “It’s now Loudon’s loss and Goffstown’s gain.”
He later added, “I’m telling you right now it’s been very stressful working 12- to 14-hour shifts. I had a great opportunity to hire one of the best candidates the PD probably ever had.”
While Krieger suggested the discussion be had in a nonpublic session, Burgess refused that idea.
“I think the townspeople need to understand that this is ludicrous,” he said. “And I would really like an explanation as to why.”
Fiske, meanwhile, sat silent.
“He’s not conversing with me because he doesn’t have it in him,” Burgess said.
Krieger put the brakes on the police chief’s comments, warning him that “we’re not going to turn this into a circus.”
“I don’t want a circus,” Burgess said. “I just want some answers.”
But he didn’t get any, at least not Tuesday night. Krieger asked the chief if he had any other information to share, and Burgess declined.
“Unless you have something for me,” he said.
Krieger didn’t have any questions for Burgess, so he turned to Fiske.
“Anything else for the chief?” he asked.
Fiske responded, “No, sir.”
(Elodie Reed can be reached at 369-3306, ereed@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @elodie_reed.)