Judge: Public has right to see probe into fired Dover officer
DOVER – A Superior Court judge denied a request by former police officer Ronald “RJ” Letendre to block the release of an internal investigation into his conduct.
The Dover Police Department investigation has been sought through Right to Know requests filed by Seacoast Media Group and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire.
Letendre claimed the release would harm his ability to get a fair trial on a criminal charge he now faces.
A Strafford County grand jury indicted Letendre, 47, of Rollinsford, in October on a felony charge of falsifying physical evidence after launching a separate investigation following Dover’s internal police investigation.
DOVER A SWAT team responded to Whittier Falls housing Friday, where police arrested two men in connection with a suspected robbery. The crime was held at gunpoint hours earlier at a different location, according to police.
The Strafford County Regional Tactical Operations Unit, with weapons drawn, and Dover police were joined at the Dover Housing Authority residential area by New Hampshire State Police and a police dog unit.
Dover police Chief William Breault said the suspects arrested were Christopher A. McLaughlin, 22, of Newton, Massachusetts, and Ande Keele, 22, of Brockton, Massachusetts.
Dover police Lt. Scott Pettingill said no one was injured and after the arrests there was no danger to the public. He said the SWAT team was utilized because police knew the suspects were armed and they wanted to get them safely out of the building.
Ex-officer R.J. Letendre booked at Dover police station
DOVER – Former Dover police officer Ronald “RJ” Letendre – who is facing criminal charges – was recently booked at the city police station.
At the request of Foster’s Daily Democrat, Dover police released Letendre’s booking photo after he was processed on a felony charge at the station where he used to work.
Superior Court Judge Mark E. Howard issued a bail order for Letendre in December, requiring the former Dover cop to “arrange for booking or processing by the Dover Police Department on or before Dec. 30.”
Dover Police Chief William Breault terminated Letendre in August “due to multiple violations of departmental policy,” after police conducted an internal investigation into the former officer’s conduct.
DOVER – The attorney for former Dover police officer Ronald “RJ” Letendre asked for his client to have access to guns while out on bail on a felony charge of falsifying physical evidence.
Strafford County Attorney Thomas Velardi also revealed Letendre and his estranged wife, Sarah Letendre, may be seeking to reunite, raising that as a concern regarding the guns.
Public defender Carl Swenson argued Friday morning “that there is a constitutional right to a firearm” and Letendre should not be prevented from having access to one “merely because of an accusation of a felony-level offense.”
Swenson told Superior Court Judge Mark Howard “the circumstances of this case does not suggest” there would be any danger for Letendre to have “access to a firearm.”
Dover police chief seeks open dialogue with community, manager says
DOVER – Police Chief William Breault is “in the process of organizing a community engagement committee,” according to City Manager Mike Joyal.
“As you’re well aware, our police department has been very proactive in not only remaining accredited, (but) having citizens involved in their strategic planning efforts,” Joyal told the City Council Wednesday night. “But as an extension of that, the chief is looking to identify a group that would be created to create an open and ongoing dialogue between the community and the police department on matters related to law enforcement.”