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Brentwood board backs police chief after Epping mutual-aid dispute; chair says resignation is voluntary
Summary
Select Board chair announced Chief Doty’s resignation and read a letter to the neighboring town of Epping defending the Brentwood Police Department and offering to meet. The board said the resignation was the chief’s decision and not requested by the board.
The Brentwood Select Board on Aug. 7 announced the resignation of Police Chief Doty and publicly disputed allegations in a letter from the Epping Police Department that had prompted Epping to terminate mutual aid to Brentwood.
Select Board chair Paul read a letter the board sent to Epping Town Administrator Roger (first name not specified in meeting documents) responding to a July 17 letter from Chief Wallace of Epping. The Select Board letter, prepared and presented by the chair on behalf of the board, characterized the allegations that Brentwood officers display “a pattern of unprofessional and dangerously incompetent behavior” as “baseless and devoid of any factual basis” and said that the board “fully supports the action, integrity, and professionalism of its police chief and the members of the Brentwood Police Department.” The letter also described a written communication Brentwood had received from Epping and said Brentwood officials remain willing to meet with Epping counterparts to resolve issues professionally.
The chair said Chief Doty’s resignation was his decision and that the Select Board had not asked him to resign. “This was a decision on his part to move into the private sector,” the chair said, and offered personal thanks for Doty’s service. The letter the chair read was dated Aug. 7, 2025; the transcript shows the chair said there had been no response from Epping at the time of the meeting.
Why it matters: The mutual-aid arrangements between neighboring towns affect emergency response and public safety coordination. The board’s public letter and its support for Chief Doty seek to preserve inter-town working relationships while disputing Epping’s stated reasons for withdrawing mutual aid.
What the record shows: - Chair read letter dated 08/07/2025 responding to Chief Wallace’s 07/17/2025 letter to Epping officials. - The board stated publicly that the chief’s departure was voluntary and that the board continues to support its police department. - The chair invited meetings with Epping officials to “move our restoring neighboring towns forward in a respectful, professional, and productive manner.”
Ending: The Select Board said it had received applications from at least two candidates to fill the department head vacancy and plans to consider candidates in nonpublic session.
