Brookline police chief fired, reason a mystery

BROOKLINE – Selectmen last night announced police Chief Thomas Goulden has been terminated, but the reason for his dismissal remains a mystery.

In a brief statement at the beginning of the regular selectmen's meeting yesterday, chairman Linda Saari said Goulden was "removed as chief," but gave no explanation.

Sgt. Michael Kurland, who has been with the department since 1998, has been appointed acting chief, Saari said.

Neither Goulden nor his attorney, Andru H. Volinksy, could be reached for comment.

Goulden met with selectmen in a non-public session April 22, with attorneys for both the chief and the selectmen present.

Goulden's relationship with selectmen has often been tense since he became chief in 1997. Shortly after he took the job, police arrested Selectman Clarence Farwell, his wife and five other residents over the ringing of a church bell on July 4, 1997, according to New Hampshire Union Leader reports.

Although the so-called "Bell Ringing" incident set the stage for a stormy relationship, Selectman Jack Flanagan said history had nothing to do with the present events.

"To say that it's a bell ringing issue every time we have to deal with the police chief is naive," said Flanagan. "That happened 13 years ago. This has nothing to do with bell ringing."

In 2004, the chief and the board again found themselves at odds over the police department's procedure for disseminating information to the public, a problem that stemmed from police releasing information on the arrest of a former selectman on forgery and identity fraud charges, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

Goulden was also suspended for two weeks without pay in March 2005, and lost a court battle over the suspension, according to minutes from the selectmen's meetings.

Flanagan, who along with Selectman Clarence Farwell, was recused from the April 22 meeting, refused to say what had prompted the meeting or Goulden's subsequent firing, but said the board was following procedure in order to "maintain checks and balances."

The former chief could take the town to court for wrongful termination, as has happened in Lyndeborough and Litchfield in recent years, or he could accept the termination.

In the meantime, Kurland will manage day-to-day operations of the department.

Hired by Goulden in 1998, Kurland, 37, said that in his role as second-in-command, he knows the ropes of the department well and doesn't anticipate any problems with the transition.

"I'll do what I have to do to ensure the service to the people of Brookline isn't interrupted," Kurland told the board.

After the meeting, he said the seven full-time and four part-time officers on the department were informed of Goulden's termination on Saturday.

"I have their full support," said Kurland. "I want to make sure my officers know they have my support and the full support of the community."