Windham County Sheriff's Department
~ Breaking News ~

By NICOLE ORNE, Reformer Staff
Brattleboro Reformer

At the rally, called the Red Fox Turkey Run, roughly 300 riders were told by sheriff's deputies that their motorcycles were not legal under Vermont laws and that the rally appeared to be a race.

The event was canceled by organizers and has not been held in Vermont since.

A statement from the Jamaica Selectboard, which is also a party in the suit, reported that the board agreed to have the chairman sign an agreement which would require the town, sheriff's department, the former sheriff and a few others to pay the club $600,000.

Jamaica's share would be $125,000.

This is much less than the $3 million the club was originally seeking, which would have paid the riders back for transportation, registration fees, lodging and taking time off from work, roughly $1,000 per person.

The settlement will not be official until the court approves it and all the parties, including each of the roughly 300 riders, agree to sign it.

"The agreement does not constitute an admission of culpability on the part of the town or its Selectboard," the statement reads.

"While the Selectboard felt that it had a strong case, the cost of protracted litigation would have significantly exceeded that of a settlement. We hope that this agreement brings closure for all parties concerned."

None of the parties could speak much about the agreement until it was official and the two main attorneys were not available for comment.

The new sheriff, Keith Clark, said that while he was aware of the lawsuit when he ran for the position, it was a relief to have it nearly over.

"There were certain things that occurred in this department before I took over. This one was sitting there," Clark said. "Now, to look into the future and see this as one of the things we won't have to worry about anymore, it allows us to focus on rebuilding and moving forward."

After a number of issues involving former Sheriff Sheila Prue, Clark said the department was beginning to get things back on track. "We need to continue to rebuild relations with the towns and communities. They sustained some damage during a tumultuous time before I got here."

Prue pleaded guilty to embezzlement, petty larceny and neglect of duty. This on top of the lawsuit left the department with a black eye.

"For the most part, they're seeing the sheriff's department in a whole new light. A little more professional, a little more outgoing and upbeat and responsive," Clark said.

"Over the last eight months, what I've seen from the deputies has been nothing short of amazing. They just wanted to be seen as law enforcement professionals, which they are. Now morale is way up, motivation is up."

Nicole Orne can be reached at norne@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 277.