By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Greenfield, MA) Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. will be reinstated to his role as Police Chief in the Greenfield Police Department effective September 1st. Mayor Wedegartner placed Chief Haigh and Lieutenant Todd Dodge on paid administrative leave on May 6th of this year. According to the Mayor, the leave was a legal matter separate from the verdict in the Buchanan & Dodge v. City of Greenfield civil suit.
According to a news release from the Mayor’s office, the Mayor ordered an independent investigation into the legal matter involving a conversation between Chief Haigh and Lt. Dodge in the parking lot of Hampshire County Superior Court on April 22nd, 2022, “which Chief Haigh interpreted as an attempt to circumvent court proceedings regarding a possible settlement.”
The investigation was conducted by attorneys John Clifford and Daniel Williams of Clifford & Kenny. Lt. Dodge and his legal counsel declined to participate in the investigation.
The investigation found “no credible evidence that Chief Haigh violated City policy,” that there is “insufficient credible evidence to determine whether the other party violated City policy,” and that “there is insufficient credible evidence to determine whether the other party attempted to extort Chief Haigh, or whether either man committed perjury on the stand.”
“I stressed from the beginning that this was not directly related to the jury’s finding in the case. Now that an independent investigation has determined him to be ‘highly credible’ and absent any finding of wrongdoing, I am reinstating Chief Haigh effective Thursday,” said Mayor Wedegartner. “I want to thank Deputy Chief William Gordon for his steady leadership these past several months. He and Chief Haigh have had an excellent working relationship and I know they will continue to work closely together to move the department forward.”
“I am eager to get back to work,” said Chief Haigh. “It has been challenging, both professionally and personally, to be sidelined during such a pivotal time for the Greenfield Police Department. Though there have been some setbacks in recent months, we are steadfast in our desire to build and enhance positive relationships in the community we serve.”