GREENFIELD — Following a city-ordered independent investigation, Mayor Roxann Wedegartner has reinstated Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr., who had been on paid administrative leave since May 6, effective Thursday.
In a Wednesday evening press release, Wedegartner said the city had ordered an investigation into a matter that “involved a conversation between Chief Haigh and the other party on April 22 in the parking lot of Hampshire County Superior Court, which Chief Haigh interpreted as an attempt to circumvent court proceedings regarding a possible settlement.”
Following this investigation, Wedegartner said there is “no credible evidence that Chief Haigh violated city policy” and there was “insufficient” evidence to determine if “the other party attempted to extort Chief Haigh.”
The court case against the city involved former Greenfield Police Officer Patrick Buchanan, whom a jury found was racially discriminated against when he was denied a promotion in 2014.
Haigh and Greenfield Police Lt. Todd Dodge were placed on paid administrative leave May 6 in the hours following a civil jury verdict in Hampshire County Superior Court that found Haigh and the Police Department had acted with “racial animus” toward Buchanan. Buchanan was the department’s only Black officer at the time.
“I stressed from the beginning that this was not directly related to the jury’s finding in the case. Now that an independent investigation has determined him to be ‘highly credible’ and absent any finding of wrongdoing, I am reinstating Chief Haigh effective Thursday,” Wedegartner said in the statement. “I want to thank Deputy Chief William Gordon for his steady leadership (as acting police chief) these past several months.”
The mayor declined to comment further Wednesday night.
Haigh, who could not be reached by press time Wednesday night, said in the press release that he is “eager to get back to work.”
“It has been challenging, both professionally and personally, to be sidelined during such a pivotal time for the Greenfield Police Department,” Haigh said. “Though there have been some setbacks in recent months, we are steadfast in our desire to build and enhance positive relationships in the community we serve.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.