• Barre police chief declines 2-month extension

• 
  
• 
  

   Zoom

  Barre Police Chief Erik J. Demetropoulos
  »
• • • Robert Rogowski signs 3-year contract as Barre fire chief, to replace father...
  • 
    
• 
  

  By James F. Russell
  Correspondent

  
  Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 7:43 PM
  Updated at 8:57 PM
  
  
  

  BARRE – Police Chief Erik J. Demetropoulos, whose employment contract ends on June 30, has declined an offer by selectmen to remain on the job another two months, until Aug. 31, opening the door for a sergeant on the force to become the acting chief next month.

  The board voted Monday to extend Chief Demetropoulos' labor contract. The vote also stated that should he decline, then Barre Police Sgt. James Sabourin would become the interim chief.

  Sgt. Sabourin was off duty Thursday, and could not be reached.

  A call placed to Barre Officer Christopher Snow, who was on duty, and who serves as the police union president, seeking comment, was not returned.

  Officer Snow had signed a letter of no confidence against the chief, on behalf of the bargaining unit members.

  Formerly a sergeant with the force, Chief Demetropoulos was promoted to the top position a decade ago; however, selectmen voted in November not to renew his contract. The decision sparked outrage by some members of the public who packed that meeting.

  The board appointed a search committee to vet potential candidates, and 19 applied for the job.

  Selectmen said the panel would not have a list of finalists in time for the board to appoint a new chief by July; therefore, they offered the chief a contract extension to allow adequate time for the committee to finish its work.

  Lief Ericson, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, disclosed at Monday's meeting that Chief Demetropoulos is among the candidates applying for the chief’s position. The chairman did not identify any of the others who applied.
  

  Police Chief Search Committee Chairman Steven Boudreau said Thursday that revealing Chief Demetropoulos' name as an applicant would affect the process.

  "I can't comment if he is an applicant," Mr. Boudreau said. "They are all confidential."

  He emphasized that he could neither confirm nor deny anything about anyone who might have applied for the job.

  "If I were an applicant for a public position," he said, "as an applicant, I would feel the process has been compromised."

  He said all the applicants applied with an understanding that their names would not be released - to do otherwise would "dissuade applicants from applying," and run counter to their expectation of privacy promised by the town. "It compromises the integrity of the process," he said.

  In an interview, the chief said his decision not to accept the two-month extension has no bearing on applying for the chief’s job.

  It “has no effect on the employment application,” Chief Demetropoulos said. “My decision has no weight or bearing” on applying for the chief’s job, he said, adding that it was not fair that his name was made public.

  “I hope my supporters do not think I am turning my back on them. I love the community I have been able to serve,” the chief said. “It was a difficult decision.”