Windham County Sheriff's Department
~ Breaking News ~

By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff
Brattleboro Reformer

Sgt. John Dunfee, who took over the troubled Bellows Falls Police Department in January when former Police Chief Keith Clark was elected to the Windham County Sheriff's Department, handed his letter of resignation to the Bellows Falls trustees at their regular meeting. Dunfee's last day will be Sept. 28.

Dunfee also confirmed that the Vermont State Police have been asked to investigate two separate incidents within the Bellows Falls Police Department, though he declined to offer any details on the reasons behind the investigations.

Dunfee said he will be moving "out West," to be closer to his children and he said most of the reasons behind leaving were personal. But he also said that it has been a challenge to run a department that is short-staffed and overworked.

"This department needs some work," Dunfee said after leaving the meeting.

The village is in the process of hiring a full-time chief and Dunfee applied for the job.

He said it was hard to say if he would have stayed had he been offered the position.

Municipal Manager John Schempf said the trustees have narrowed the candidates down to two applicants and the board met in executive session late Tuesday to make a decision.

Schempf said the village could contact the candidate Wednesday to offer him the job, but it was wishful thinking, Schempf said, to expect the new chief to be on the job within two weeks.

The board of trustees only found out about Dunfee's decision before the meeting and trustees appeared surprised about the announcement.

"We just got this tonight and I was sorry to receive it," Village President Clark Barber said, holding up Dunfee's letter of resignation.

"He's done a helluva job," said Rockingham Selectboard member Dennis Harty who was sitting in the audience and led a round of applause to honor Dunfee.

Officer Dave Bemis is second in command, but Dunfee said it would be up to the trustees to decide who will take over in the interim if the new chief can not arrive in Bellows Falls before Dunfee leaves on the 28th.

The Bellows Falls Police Department has been under intense pressure with the public both demanding more service while watching the budget.

After the trustees promised to keep close rein on the overtime within the department this year, the department has been running about $7,000 in the red every two weeks.

The department lost a number of officers, some whom are still receiving pay, while Dunfee has been forced to pay officers overtime to cover the empty shifts.

Last month, three homemade bombs were set off in the village and Dunfee said Tuesday that he simply does not have the personnel to adequately investigate the matter.

"I'm doing the best I can. It's tough," Dunfee said earlier in the meeting when the trustees were drilling him about the status of the department. "I'm doing the best I can with what resources we have."

The tense meeting ended in an uncomfortable shouting match between Barber and trustee Roger Riccio.

Barber said as president, he expected to be told about certain things, though he did not give many details.

A benefit concert was held in Bellows Falls, Monday, for the Extreme Makeover television show, and Barber said he should have been told about the event.

"I have the same responsibilities as the chairman of the selectmen and I deserve the same respect," Barber said. "If anything should happen, I should know about it."

Riccio is director of the Great Falls Camber of Commerce and helped put on the concert Monday.

Barber said he has a cell phone and the trustees should have been called about the concert.

Riccio said that a call to every board member would be illegal.

"We had our words on Saturday," Riccio responded. "You're directing this toward me and I don't want to go there with you. You are the president, but you are not the king. You are not George Bush."

"I would like protocol. That is all I want," Barber said. "I am not here to argue right now."

Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reform-er.com or 802-254-2311 ext. 279.