Former Police Chief Sues New Milford

NEW MILFORD, CT — The former police chief is suing Mayor Pete Bass and the town, claiming that his contract was not renewed last October because he reported possible criminal activity of a high ranking officer and friend of the mayor.

Shawn Boyne was the chief of police in New Milford, from October 15, 2010 through October 14, 2018. In a complaint filed on March 11, Boyne claims he was on track to having his 4-year contract renewed last year until he made Bass aware of allegations that Lt. Larry Ash, the department’s public information officer, had "engaged in criminal misconduct."

Following his first discussion on the topic with Bass in June, the mayor placed Ash on administrative leave, according to the complaint.

But one month later, Boyne "became aware of significant additional and credible
allegations concerning Lt. Ash," the complaint reads. Boyne then forwarded that information to prosecutorial authorities "for further investigation and potential criminal charges." Boyne placed Ash on administrative leave pending resolution of the investigation, with Bass expressing his "dismay and displeasure" at Boyne's notification of the authorities.

Ten days later, Bass informed Boyne that his contract would not be renewed. At various points prior to that, the former chief says that Bass had praised the job he was doing, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit notes that the reason Bass gave for not re-upping Boyne was that he did not live in New Milford. Boyne's replacement, Spencer Cerruto, was a Torrington resident, and the minimum requirements of the posted job description did not include New Milford residency, according to the complaint. The complaint states that "Bass concocted the explanation —that the Police Chief should be a Town resident — as a pretext for his bad faith action."

Ash, whom the lawsuit names as "a longtime friend" of Bass, was reinstated on the force in January. No details have been released regarding the allegations made against him.

"Defendants acted in bad faith," the complaint summarizes, 'by failing to renew Plaintiff's contract when he was at all times material herein fully qualified to continue to perform the position."