McGowan, a full-time police officer in the town since 2002, last year named then Chief Kyle Johnson, Hoch and the town as defendants in a suit alleging discrimination and retaliation against a whistle-blower in federal court last year.
He alleged that officials named in the suit had allowed or covered up incidents of racism and harassment in the Police Department and then had discriminated against him for reporting them.
Hoch said Johnson's departure and McGowan's leave has spread the force a little thin.
"There's very little capacity built into the system to cover being short multiple officers," he said. "With one of the two vacancies being the chief, it's not quite as challenging. That position was supplemental capacity to cover open shifts from time to tome as opposed to holding a regular duty shift."
Police Lt. Michael Ziemba has taken over as acting chief while the community debates not only how it will fill the position but what it expects from its new chief. It is also having the Police Department's policies and allegations reviewed.
The Eagle on Friday detailed three police reports on McGowan, two involving drinking and driving. The first was on April 9, 1997, when he drove onto the walkway at Thompson Chapel and damaged the lawn. The reporting officer described McGowan as "argumentative" and smelling of alcohol but not "under the influence" and he was allowed to leave.
The second was more than a decade later, on Nov. 20, 2009, when he was stopped by Vermont State Police in Bennington for erratic driving. According to court records cited by The Eagle, his blood alcohol level, taken two hours later, came in under the 0.08 limit at 0.065. He was charged with negligent operation and his ability to drive in Vermont was suspended for a time.
A more significant incident was a charge of domestic assault from 1999 in North Adams. His then girlfriend told police he had thrown her against a wall and then to the floor during an argument about nude photos he'd found of her; McGowan claimed she had awakened him and hit him and he'd pushed her to the floor to calm her down.
She was given a restraining order against him and a year later he admitted to facts sufficient to warrant a guilty finding, the case was continued without a finding and he was ordered to get counseling. He was a part-time officer in Williamstown at the time.
The Eagle spoke to former Police Chief J. Michael Kennedy Jr., who said he viewed McGowan as "a major liability" and recommended against hiring him full time.
McGowan was hired by the next chief and promoted to sergeant two years later.
His attorney, David A. Russcol, told The Eagle that McGowan did not know the complaint against him.
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Jason Hoch should not have confirmed identity of the employee on leave. Tantamount to slander. While someone may have inferred who was placed on leave, this is violation of the Sergeant's privacy unless he has been legally charged with a crime.
Students say teacher Frani Miceli makes learning fun.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Frani Miceli has been selected as the July Teacher of the Month.
The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next 12 months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.
Miceli has been teaching for 26 years and has worked to develop a happy, comfortable, and creative learning environment for her pupils.
Through her connection with her students and the decor on her classroom walls, Miceli hopes to help them realize that being kind is possible.
"I have a thing on my wall that says, 'Character is what you do when no one is watching.' So, I hope that they have internalized that," Miceli said.
"We make personal decisions because it's the right thing to do, and sometimes our actions can negatively impact other people, and sometimes they can positively impact other people. So I think happy kids make happy choices, and so I just want them to be happy, engaged children"
Every single one of her students in her morning math class jumped at the opportunity to praise their teacher.
The exhibit, "Edgar Degas: Multi-Media Artist in the Age of Impressionism," coincides with the 150th anniversary of the first impressionist exhibition, which was held in Paris in 1874.
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The Select Board on Monday discussed how the town communicates to residents during an emergency and whether residents unaffiliated with Williams College should have access to the same information as college students and staff about incidents on campus. click for more
The Prudential Committee on Wednesday discussed the need for a policy for all call-volunteer firefighters who reach the state's mandatory retirement age.
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The Select Board on Monday was told that it should let the people who walk their dogs in the Spruces Park decide how the 114-acre town-owned park is managed. click for more
The exhibit "Fragile Beauty" fills the pavilion with glass objects from the Corning Museum of Glass, showcasing different cultures, time periods and techniques, and will run through Oct. 27.
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