Concord Police Chief Says He'd Like To See School Investigation

CONCORD, NH — Despite improved relations between the Concord School District and the Concord Police Department, the city's police chief says he has not received a copy of an internal investigation by the district into employee actions connected to the Primo "Howie" Leung case. Chief Bradley Osgood, during a Public Safety Board meeting Monday, was asked to comment on the matter, including interactivity with the district.

Relations have been strained after no one in the school system contacted the police department concerning the Leung investigation despite a memorandum of agreement to work together on criminal issues — which was broken by the district when they failed to report accusations that Leung was sexually involved with a student in December 2018.

Osgood called the district's lack of transparency at that time "a disagreement" and said, "It is what it is."

But, he added, "Since that time, I've had very, very, very good communications and feedback from the superintendent's office, until last week."

School Superintendent Terri Forsten and Concord High School Principal Tom Sica were put on paid leave Friday. Assistant Superintendent Donna Palle was elevated to acting superintendent. Palley is not credentialed for either position, according to the New Hampshire Department of Education.

If the School Board or school department decides to make any policy changes in the wake of the investigation, Osgood said the department would like to know about them to address any issues that might arise.

"Do I anticipate getting a copy of the report?" he asked. "That’s the determination of the school board. They will make that determination."

Osgood said the department was "not involved" in any way in the investigation by Djuna Perkins of DP Law, a former Boston prosecutor. He said he had spoken to Stephen Bennett of Wadleigh, Starr & Peters PLLC, the intermediary between school board members and Perkins, who informed Osgood of the investigation and told him about Perkins being involved.

Perkins did not request any documentation from the department and didn't interview employees as part of her investigation. The department would not have been able to share any information with her because it is an open investigation, he added.

"None of those records would be released," Osgood said. "Unless it is a public document in Massachusetts, right now."

When asked after the meeting if he wanted to see the report, Osgood replied, "Out of curiosity, certainly, I would like to read (it). Do I have a critical desire to read it right now? No, I don't … eventually, yes, whatever they can provide."

Currently, Osgood added, the Leung investigation in New Hampshire is still an open case and neither school board members nor any investigator they hired would be able to see the police reports or investigatory materials.

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