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Police and town officials push back on Facebook claim about officer intimidation
Summary
Town staff addressed a Facebook post alleging an intimidating police interaction over a donation; officials said bodycam footage shows a 45-second interaction that contained no intimidation and urged residents to verify official records before sharing allegations online.
Town staff and public-safety officials addressed a recent Facebook post that alleged intimidation by an officer during an interaction concerning a donation returned to a mailbox. Officials said bodycam footage exists and that the recorded interaction lasted about 45 seconds.
A town staff member told the board the officer's conduct did not appear intimidating and that the bodycam shows a short interaction; staff urged residents to seek official footage or records rather than relying on social-media accounts. "There's nothing intimidating about it," a staff speaker said when summarizing the department's review of the footage.
Board members and staff discussed the burden of responding to repeated social-media misinformation and the need for clear channels for residents to request and receive official information. Staff said they would follow up on the specific incident and encouraged citizens to contact town offices for the official record.
The board emphasized that policy and public-trust interests require careful, timely responses when misinformation circulates and that the town will continue to review bodycam and FOIA/91-A requests as needed.
