Salem's Former Police Deputy Chief Sues Town

SALEM, NH — Former Police Deputy Chief Robert Morin Jr. has filed suit against the town of Salem for allegations made against him during a Police Department audit last year. Morin, who retired this month, has been on paid administrative leave since last winter, when the N.H. Attorney General's Office began a criminal investigation into Morin and several other Salem police staff as a result of the audit. With some of the allegations having been publicized, Morin is suing the town for defamation of character, slander, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress and fraud by misrepresenting facts.

The suit filed at Rockingham County Superior Court this spring is against the town of Salem, Town Manager Christopher Dillon and Human Resources Director Anne Fogarty. Morin's complaint states that Dillon, Fogarty and a former human resources director made false, defamatory statements against him during the audit and allowed the false allegations to be released, resulting in damage to his reputation and career, lost wages, loss of future career opportunities and earning capacity, and emotional distress.

"The conduct of the Defendants, and each of them, was wanton, malicious, and performed with reckless disregard of the falsity of their statements," Morin claims.

Morin filed a complaint through his attorney in April and amended the complaint in May. He also has filed a motion to seal the complaint to keep the document confidential, but the court has denied that motion.

The audit was conducted by Kroll, Inc., which was contracted in February 2018. Morin's complaint states that during the process, some town staff criticized the department's oversight of officers' attendance and use of vacation time — allegations that were not corroborated by Kroll. Morin also claims that Fogarty and former Human Resources Director Molly McKean attacked his character and professionalism during the audit while knowingly making false statements that damaged his reputation and standing in the community.

Morin claims that after the audit was completed, Dillon released the audit report to all members of the Salem Police Department in violation of the town's policy to keep personnel matters confidential. Although some information was redacted, the redaction was not effective, Morin states in his complaint.

In his suit, he asks that the court order the town to pay for damages, as the court's jurisdiction allows. Town officials have until the end of July to file a response to Morin's complaint.

The AG's office has not released any additional information on its ongoing investigation. Also part of the investigation is Salem's former Police Chief Paul Donovan, who retired in December, as well as Capt. Michael Wagner and Sgt. Michael Verrocchi, who are both on administrative leave.