Resident presses Wolfeboro commission on handling of former chief's investigation; commissioners cite cultural changes and accreditation work

During public comment at the April 10 meeting of the Wolfeboro Police Commission, resident Carol Lewellen asked commissioners to explain follow-up steps after an investigation of former Chief Rondo and pressed whether promises made on his retirement were fulfilled.

Lewellen said she had "sent an email approximately 2 months ago asking questions" and that she had not received a response. She asked about an earlier investigation of Chief Rondo, saying the findings were "sustained" and asking whether the commission had acted on recommendations.

Commissioners and department leaders responded with a review of post-investigation steps. Commissioner Duffy and other commissioners said the commission had overseen an internal investigation and that the department is pursuing accreditation and revising policies and procedures. Commissioner Duffy said the organizational culture has improved since the MRI (management review) report and the subsequent internal review, adding that "there is the recipe for a healthy organizational culture within the Wolfeboro Police Department exists right now, and it's only gonna get better."

Chief Christopher Warren and other commissioners described a series of actions after the MRI and internal reviews: a change in leadership, an active accreditation process and efforts to ensure policies and expectations are enforced. Commissioner Duffy said Captain Libby has gained supervisory experience over eight years and that leadership is enforcing mission-first priorities.

Lewellen also raised a separate retirement-related grievance: she said she was told former Chief Rondo received a call offering "good news" and "bad news" the day after he left full-time service, and she said promises had been made that were not kept. She asked specifically whether Rondo had been promised a rocking chair and his service firearm.

Commissioners told Lewellen that the commission had adopted a policy change that generally stopped gifting service weapons to retirees; one commissioner said, "we agreed that we weren't, we weren't going to gift service weapons, to retirees any longer, starting with the chief." Captain Libby and others said retirees may be offered the option to purchase their firearm from the vendor at a discounted price under past arrangements, and the captain said he would research records and follow up. On the rocking chair, commissioners said they would look into any record of the promise and report back.

Select Board member Paul O'Brien spoke during public comment earlier in the meeting, saying the Select Board voted to seek advice from the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office about next steps for the Libby matter and that the process to identify qualified trustees or operators "is gonna take a while." He also discussed recent town budget work and said fireworks funding for the summer had been preserved.

Why it matters: residents raised questions about transparency, past disciplinary findings and whether past promises to employees were kept. Commissioners emphasized that the department is moving toward accreditation, improved policy compliance, and a culture where officers back one another up.

Commissioners said they would respond to Lewellen's emailed questions and that the captain would research the specific claims about the retired chief's promised items and potential purchase options for retired firearms. The commission's next meeting is scheduled for May 8 at 6 p.m.