Windham County Sheriff's Department
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"It was all building up," he said. "The department's got some problems. I believe those problems have been here for quite a while -- way before I've been here."

The straw that broke the camel's back, Dunfee said, was a malicious and unfounded rumor about him, which he believes was spread throughout town by a department employee.

"It passed through the village and got back to me," he said, declining to specify the nature of the rumor. "All I've done is defend myself since I've been here."

Dunfee's resignation comes at a time when the Vermont State Police are investigating two internal issues relating to the department.

According to Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper, Rockingham Municipal Manager John Schempf made two requests in August for the state police to investigate. Sleeper declined to comment further while the incidents are still under investigation.

According to Dunfee and Schempf, the first relates to an allegation by a department employee that Dunfee took too many overtime hours and refused to share them with other police officers. Dunfee said he received confirmation from the state police that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

The second incident concerns the theft of a recording from the department's 911 dispatch system, Dunfee said. The stolen tape was in an area accessible only to department employees -- leading him to believe it was the work of a police officer.

"I'm sure there's some people that would want the tape, but I couldn't give names," he said.

Dunfee announced his decision to resign Tuesday at a meeting of the Bellows Falls Trustees -- the same night the trustees settled on the village's new, permanent police chief. Dunfee was appointed in January to temporarily fill the position after former Police Chief Keith Clark was elected Windham County Sheriff.

Though Dunfee applied for the permanent position, he said family issues would have prevented him from taking it, if offered. He said those issues also contributed to his decision to resign.

According to Schempf, Clark's replacement accepted the position Wednesday and -- as long as he passes a background check -- he will join the department before Dunfee leaves Sept. 28.

"There are problems, stresses and strains (at the department), and the new candidate has been apprised of all that information," Schempf said. "I told him today that the sergeant has resigned and I asked him if he was still interested in the position and he said, 'Of course.'"

Both Schempf and Village President Clark Barber said they hoped the new chief would help straighten out the village police force.

"I think he'll smooth out some of the bumps. I'm hopeful he'll be able to do that," Schempf said.

"I think the department is a little bit broken," Barber said. "I'm hoping with this new chief we can mend it."

According to Dunfee, problems within the department are widespread and may be difficult to remedy. Comparing the situation to the early 1970s, when the village police force dealt with rampant criminal activity within the department, Dunfee said he "hopes" the present situation is not that bad.

But outside of the two state police investigations, he said there are other personnel problems. Refusing to elaborate further, Dunfee said simply, "Money has come up missing here."

Two things are necessary to get the department back on track, he said.

"I think there'd have to be some personnel changes. And I think (the trustees) would have to realistically look at the budget. I believe from there, it would have to get back out in the community and get the trust and support back and move forward," he said.

Village trustees have vacillated in recent months between cutting the department's budget, restoring it and considering cutting the police force altogether. Though there are nine full-time positions in the department, only five officers are working full shifts. Several employees are either working part-time, on light duty, enrolled at the police academy or serving in the National Guard.

The stress of filling extra shifts has been demoralizing, Dunfee said, and it also led to the first State Police investigation.

"I was picking up the slack until one of the officers had me investigated by the state, so now I'm going to start ordering them in. I was trying to help them out, but now I'm going to have to start ordering them in to do overtime, which they're already complaining about," he said.

According to a payroll document, which was requested by the police union prior to the investigation and provided by Schempf, Dunfee worked 605 overtime hours between January and July, earning an additional $20,941.

Most other full-time employees worked between 50 and 200 overtime hours, earning between $1,500 and $4,500 in addition to base pay.

Dunfee said the complaint against him was unfounded and was filed by a "disgruntled employee" who "was just trying to create a little more animosity or upheaval within the department."

According to Barber, "From what my understanding is, he did what he was supposed to do. He called people in and he was the only one who could do it."

The second investigation revolves around the theft of a dispatch tape, which occurred in late July when Dunfee was out of town. While he said he does not know who was behind it, Dunfee suspects it was a member of his police force.

After calling in the company that services the recording device, Dunfee learned that a lock was broken during the theft. The department conducted a brief internal investigation, but because of the staff shortage and the sensitivity of the matter, it was referred to the state police.

"I don't know what was on the tape," Dunfee said. "It must have had something they didn't want listened to or to be divulged to somebody."

The most taxing part of his job, Dunfee said, has been dealing with the rumors allegedly generated from within his department.

"You hear a lot of things. It's a small village and people talk. It's just the nature of the beast," he said. "I've been accused of going to Canada with department money and paying for strippers for police officers and taking my cruiser over to Walpole to buy alcohol. All kinds of things like that. It all stems from people here in the department."

Barber, who supports Dunfee and said he was sorry to see him go, said the rumors have been problematic.

"I believe people have been talking where they shouldn't be talking," he said. "I think they're trying to defame him and I don't think that's right because he has done a heck of a lot for us in the past year."

Schempf said he remains supportive of Dunfee and wished he would stay. At the direction of the trustees, Schempf asked the acting chief to reconsider his resignation Wednesday, but Dunfee declined.

"I gave as much as I could to the village," Dunfee said. "Part of me feels bad that they're hurting, but my family takes precedence."

Paul Heintz can be reached at pheintz@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 275.