MONTAGUE — Lt. Christopher Bonnett is back on the job after being cleared of false accusations of domestic violence this past summer.
The Montague police officer returned to active duty status on Wednesday, after a period of administrative leave that began on June 29, when he was arrested for assault and battery on a household member and subsequently arraigned in Franklin County District Court.
The charges against Bonnett, brought by his girlfriend, Jennifer Duquette, were dropped on Nov. 14, after it was found “the complaining witness in the case provided false information,” according to Bonnett’s lawyer, Michael McHale.
“She did so in an effort to harm Lt. Bonnett out of anger,” McHale said in a statement. “In short, Lt. Bonnett was falsely accused. He committed no wrongdoing whatsoever on the night of June 29, 2018, and remains now, as he was then, completely innocent of the charge against him.”
Montague police were contacted on June 29 and relayed the domestic call involving one of its own officers to state police around 1:12 a.m.
State police then made contact with Duquette, who declined medical treatment and an emergency restraining order, and appeared to have slight injuries to her forehead, lip and leg, according to court documents.
After the case was dismissed in November, Duqette delivered an apology letter to The Recorder.
“My false accusation was a lie I told because I was angry and intended to hurt him,” Duquette said. “Given our current political climate, I knew I only had to say one thing in order to shift the blame of my own wrongdoing to him.”
Duquette added that she is “extremely embarrassed and ashamed,” and called Bonnett “one of the kindest, most understanding men I have ever known.”
“The members of the community of Montague who know Chris also know he is a considerate, kindhearted man and an admirable and invaluable member of the Montague Police Department,” she added.
Bonnett was serving as acting police chief in Montague at the time of the arrest, having replaced Police Chief Charles “Chip” Dodge, who was placed on administrative leave in October 2017. Dodge is on paid leave until Feb. 12, 2019, collecting an annual salary of $105,000.
Bonnett was one of the three finalists the Selectboard considered in November for the position of permanent police chief. As of this week, the Selectboard has chosen acting Police Chief Christopher Williams, who assumed the position after Bonnett was placed on leave, as its hire, and the town is negotiating with Williams.
Bonnett has been a lieutenant since 2016.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.