Stoughton police chief and town manager placed on leave amid investigation after chief alleges discrimination, harrassment

The Stoughton Select Board has placed Police Chief Donna McNamara and Town Manager Thomas J. Calter on paid administrative leave while it launches separate investigations into complaints involving both officials. 

The move follows a July 20 harassment complaint filed by McNamara accusing Calter of engaging in a “pattern of gossip and disparagement” and attempting to pressure her into resigning through repeated calls and text messages, according to her attorney, Leah Barrault. 

A week later, McNamara sued Calter and the town in Norfolk Superior Court, alleging he discriminated against her and interfered with her efforts to lead the department because she’s a woman. She is also alleging the town violated her employment contract by appointing one of her deputies as acting police chief just days after she filed her harassment claim. 

During a closed-door meeting June 29, Select Board Chair Joseph Mokrisky said placing both officials on leave is intended to ensure a “fair and impartial independent process” while outside investigators review the complaints. 

“The board has not reached any conclusion regarding these merits or the complaints,” Mokrisky said. “Those determinations will be made only after an independent investigation is completed, and the board has had an opportunity to review the investigator’s report.” 

The Select Board did not immediately respond to further questions about how the investigation will be conducted. According to Barrault, the board plans to hire separate outside investigators to examine the complaints against McNamara and Calter. 

Barrault said McNamara was “disappointed” by the decision to place her on leave, arguing it departed from the town’s normal process for handling personnel complaints. 

“Disappointment aside, Chief McNamara intends to fully cooperate with any process the Select Board implements,” Barrault said. 

The board appointed Assistant Town Manager and Town Engineer Marc Tisdelle as acting town manager, he announced in a statement shortly after the June 29 meeting.

The town declined to comment further on the dispute between Calter and McNamara. 

“The Town and its officials do not publicly discuss or disclose information in connection with personnel matters to preserve all parties’ privacy interests and due process rights,” Tisdelle said in a statement. 

Court records show neither the town nor Calter has yet filed a response to McNamara’s lawsuit. 

Sthoughton police chief alleges discrimination and retaliation 

In her 59-page complaint, McNamara alleges Calter repeatedly interfered with her ability to lead the department because she is a woman, retaliated after she reported his conduct, and improperly removed her from her position. 

The lawsuit says that, less than 48 hours after McNamara filed her harassment complaint, the town publicly announced that Deputy Chief James O’Connor had been appointed as acting police chief. McNamara alleges the town falsely claimed that she had voluntarily stepped down from her position.

McNamara also accuses Calter of interfering with internal police investigations. One allegation centers on an internal affairs investigation related to the Sandra Birchmore case. 

Birchmore, a 23-year-old pregnant woman and former participant in a Stoughton police youth program, was found dead in her Canton apartment in 2021. Former Stoughton detective Matthew Farwell was accused of killing her. Farwell has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled for October. 

According to the lawsuit, Calter called a report connected to the investigation a “hit piece” and repeatedly directed McNamara to destroy it, which she refused to do. 

On July 7, Calter summoned McNamara to his office and told her an employee had accused her of “berating him” and causing workplace stress, according to the complaint. 

Calter then demanded that she resign “with dignity” or face termination, per the lawsuit. McNamara further claims Calter instructed her not to report to work or enter police headquarters without his approval, forcing her to use accrued leave beginning July 7. 

The lawsuit notes that “no prior male Stoughton Police Chief has ever been terminated for a single instance of calling ‘stress’ to a subordinate.” 

McNamara also accuses Calter of making discriminatory comments “through a pattern of legally actionable and misogynistic words and conduct against the Town’s first female police chief and only female officer,” the complaint states.

McNamara is seeking a jury trial, and, rather than monetary damages, she is seeking restoration of sick time she has been forced to use. 

Town Manager denies allegations 

Attempts to reach Calter for comment were unsuccessful. 

However, Calter previously denied McNamara’s allegations of harassment and sex discrimination, telling The Boston Globe in an interview that they have unfairly damaged his reputation. 

Calter acknowledged sending McNamara text messages during the two-week period referenced in her harassment complaint, but said a town attorney reviewed the messages beforehand, per the Globe.

Calter also told the Globe the town’s information technology department found no evidence of “harassing text message, email, voicemail, or conversation.”

“Out of respect for the chief, I have remained silent while she has narrated her version of events,” Calter told the Globe. 

“This situation, which is not of my creation, has punished me more than the accused,” he added.