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March 3, 2008

Woonsocket police chief retires

WOONSOCKET -- Police Chief Michael Houle will retire April 13, saying in a letter that he has "attempted to make many positive changes" while chief, but he cannot continue in the job without weighing the effects "negative publicity" has had on his family.

Houle intends to use accrued time until April 13, according to a media advisory about the retirement from Mayor Susan D. Menard. Deputy Chief Richard Dubois will in the interim oversee police department daily operations until further notice.

Houle has had a difficult relationship with the police union and the department has faced several problems during his tenure, which started in 2005. In December, the union, Local 404, gave Houle a vote of no confidence. After the vote, Sgt. John Scully, the union president, said that police officers were concerned with what they considered Houle’s lack of communication with command staff, rash decisions and favoritism.

“During my time as chief, I made myself available to the general public as no previous police chief has and have attempted to make many positive changes bridging a needed relationship with the general public," Houle's resignation letter says, according to the press advisory. "My credibility as chief and attempts to make positive changes in the police department continue to be stonewalled and challenged.

"This is due to misleading and false information being provided to the media, and a lack of support by various people who have chosen to become involved and interfere in the day to day operations of the Woonsocket Police Department."

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney with archival reports

Houle's relationship with the union hasn't been the department's only trouble spot. During the past year, various Woonsocket police officers have been accused of misconduct. Last spring, Houle was suspended for improperly destroying drug-case evidence. After that, an officer was charged with computer tampering, and a captain and lieutenant suspended for their involvement in the investigation of the case won their case in court.

In November, five officers were suspended after a woman who spent the night in the lockup was able to smuggle a gun into her cell. In January, a man hanged himself in a jail cell at police headquarters.

Last week, a police officer alleged that the chief and deputy chief changed test results and corrected a test in-house to change the rankings of police recruits.

Houle has served with the Woonosocket Police Department for more than 29 years, according his retirement letter. In 2003, he was promoted to deputy chief. He became police chief in 2005 when William J. Shea abruptly resigned.

In his letter to Menard, Houle wrote, "Your support, understanding, and confidence as mayor and public safety director have allowed me to continue moving forward with the police department for which I will always be grateful. Additionally, your continued support allowed many changes that otherwise would not have occurred."

Houle said he's chosen to retire "in the best interest of myself, my family, and the Woonsocket Police Department in a hope that the police department will recover from its own internal dissension."

Menard stated that she will start the selection process for a new chief, per ordinance.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:13 PM | Permalink

Comments

Mayor Menard will now start the process for selecting a new chief? Who else can she choose who will simply do everything she tells him to? We know that she does not want to choose the best qualified candidate with intelligence in the field of criminal justice, but rather someone who will do what they are told....as all her former chiefs have done.

Frank | March 3, 2008 4:32 PM link

"Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss."

"Wall Street"

Chief Houle fell into the abyss. Anyone who will follow his path will also fall into the abyss. The Mayor will need to find a new chief with character but will she be able to tolerate such a person? She never has before.

John | March 3, 2008 5:03 PM link

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Unfortunately, with Mayor Menard still in office, we can expect another puppet to be appointed.
Maybe it's time that Mayor Menard follows the chief and does all of Woonsocket a favor and should retire also.
It is a shame that Mr. Houle gets to collect a pension. It is supposed to be aobut honorable servie, not just service.

Richard | March 3, 2008 9:23 PM link

Mayor Empress Menard runs the police department. Corruption and incompetence always follow in her wake.

bob north smithfield | March 4, 2008 12:13 AM link

March 3, 2008

Woonsocket police chief retires

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