Judge Decides Against Milford Police Chief

MILFORD, MA- A judge ruled against Milford's Chief O'Loughlin earlier this month in his request for a preliminary injunction as his lawsuit against the town over his contract renewal plays out.

The ruling means Milford could start looking for a the chief's replacement and could effectively end O’Loughlin’s 17-year tenure once his extended contract is up on June 30.

“Judge Reardon's ruling validates the rights of the town and the Board of Selectmen’s decision, and that we had discretionary power not to renew the contract," Selectmen William Buckley said.

In the preliminary injunction, the chief argued he would be irreparably harmed if relief was not granted and that the harm he would face would be worse than the harm the town might incur by not looking for his replacement. The judge struck down both points.

In his decision, Justice of the Superior Court Gavin Reardon Jr. said "The terms and conditions remaining in effect similarly do not require the board to enter into a successor agreement." He went on to specify that even though O'Loughlin gave the board a timely written notice that he wanted to renegotiate and that both parties began subsequent negotiations, the board ultimately notified O'Loughlin that they would not move forward with renewing his contract beyond the already extended term. "Nothing in the agreement prohibited the board's decision not to enter into a successor agreement under these circumstances," the ruling reads.

Chief O'Loughlin has been in the spotlight quite a few times this year, filing several complaints against the town, including a discrimination complaint in November. The complaint focused on Selectman Buckley. In a statement where the Selectmen announced its vote not to renew O’Loughlin’s contract, Buckley noted that O'Loughlin was nearing the age that state statutory limits require police and fire personnel to retire at, 65.

The chief filed another complaint against the town with the Attorney General's office in mid-December. The complaint claims officials released part of his personnel record to the public., referring to a letter from the selectmen to the chief sent in March. In the letter, selectmen express disappointment in O’Loughlin’s memory of two executive session meetings, and refer to “allegations of drinking with subordinates during the work day.”

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