Drugs Missing, Ex Chief Kevin P. Gleason Suspect, No Charges Filed?

[captainjoint]

I am posting this from 01521.com - It seems the folks that appointed Gleason as Chief are now trying to say they didn't...
Read on, then check out
captainjoint.com
The Board of Selectmen discussed the future of the Holland Police Department after Chief Kevin Gleason‘s resignation
The selecboard's meeting, Wed. May 13, 09, to discuss the situation without Police Chief Kevin Gleason & the time of transition until a new Chief of Police will be appointed. Present were three members of the Board of Selectmen, James Wettlaufer, chairman, Earl Johnson, & Christian Petersen. The Holland Police Department,(HPD) was represented by Lieutenant Ray Moorehouse, Sergeant Brian C. Haughey, & Officer Herb Duggan.
There was talk about the need of a new evidence locker, about cleaning up & going through big piles of documents.Ex Chief Gleason kept everything & failed to sort out documents that no longer needed to be on file under the record keeping laws. Sergeant Brian Haughey seems to be the one in charge of doing most of the clean up. Johnson acknowledged the fact by stating: "You have done an enormous amount of work last week."
During the meeting, there was no mentioning of the much talked about planned Tri-Town Police.
The safe keeping of evidence got a lot of attention. Ex Chief Kevin Gleason was the only member of the HPD that had access to the evidence locker. While Gleason was chief, there was no backup person that would have taken over responsibility for the evidence locker. Wettlaufer,“I would like to see some sort of checks & balances.” Back in 03, John Moran reported drugs missing out of the evidence locker. Gleason & Moran were the only two individuals who had a key to the evidence locker. The State Police conducted an investigation about the larceny. The scheduled polygraph test was taken by Moran, Gleason rescheduled several times & finally refused to take the test. Despite the fact that Gleason‘s fingerprints were inside the container with the drugs the investigation was terminated & no charges filed. Shortly after, Moran was laid off & Gleason‘s contract as Chief of Police renewed in June of 03 by James Wettlaufer, Earl Johnson, & Christian Petersen.
Wettlaufer asked the three officers,“how do you want to proceed?” A discussion ensued during which it was decided that the Chief‘s responsibilities would be shared among the officers with Lieutenant Moorehouse the first in command. However, it was decided not to appoint him as the acting interim Chief of the HPD. Ray Moorehouse became the first lieutenant on the HPD upon the recommendation of ex Chief Gleason back on November 12, 05. Moorehouse sees the need that at least one member of the committee has a law enforcement background.
Selectman Earl Johnson:“We want to get it right this time,” claiming that Jim Foley, Carolyn Reardon, & Paul Foster appointed Kevin Gleason as the Chief of Police. However, records show that he himself together with James Wettlaufer & Christian Petersen appointed Kevin Gleason to the Chief position. Earl Johnson was the chairman of the board at that time. Not only did the three incumbent selectmen appoint Gleason back on September 5, 02; they reappointed him after his first one year contract expired, & again in 06. Gleason's contract would have ended in Oct of this year.
The search committee appointed by the selectboard that selected Kevin Gleason back in 02 as the top contestant consisted of the three members, Stacy Quinones, Eddie Voloka & Mike the Greek ,(Mike Mertzanis). Gleason became the acting Chief of the HPD after Donald A. Haapakoski resigned.
Peter Frei