Former Woodstock Police Chief Joseph Swanson officially appealed his demotion to patrol officer to the Vermont Superior Court this week and is asking a state judge to block the village from hiring a new police chief until the lawsuit is resolved.
The civil court in Woodstock is the next step in a long legal process for the veteran lawman, who was put on paid leave in October and had a demotion hearing before the Woodstock Village Trustees in March.
Swanson is appealing the written decision issued April 17 by the five Woodstock Village Trustees upholding the recommendation of Municipal Manager Eric Duffy to reduce the police chief to the lowest rank in the department – patrol officer. Swanson had 30 days from the board ruling to appeal to the court.
The Vermont Standard reached out to Village Trustee chair Seton McIlroy for a comment on the appeal the former chief has filed for his requests for injunctions on filling the post of chief or sergeant. She did not return calls or messages. She also has been mum about the $5 million lawsuit Swanson filed against her, the Village Trustees and others. A written response is due at the court this month.
For more on this, please see our May 8 edition of the Vermont Standard.
