Dubois

WOONSOCKET — The Rhode Island State Police yesterday took over the temporary management of the Woonsocket Police Department until the city hires a new police chief.

The takeover came after a tumultuous couple of days in which the Police Department’s chief and deputy chief retired after the chief’s ex-wife made allegations that they had changed test scores on a police exam to get her on the force.

Mayor Susan D. Menard and state police Col. Brendan P. Doherty announced the takeover during a news conference at Woonsocket police headquarters yesterday.

Lt. Eric L. Croce, 43, a 22-year veteran of the state police, introduced himself to the officers and city officials who attended the news conference saying he was honored by the opportunity. “I welcome the opportunity to lend stability and provide a calming atmosphere to the department,” he said. He started work yesterday.

Menard said that the retirement of Police Chief Michael L.A. Houle and Deputy Chief Richard A. Dubois prompted her to call Doherty to ask for assistance. “It’s very important in the history of our department. My goal is that we can move forward in a positive way,” she said.

Menard said she hoped that the city would be able to hire a new chief within 90 days. She did not talk much of the allegations against Houle and Dubois, citing an internal investigation.

Many police officers in the department said they were relieved and elated by the news. Twice they had gone in force to the City Council to complain about the chief. They alleged favoritism, lack of communication with commanding officers and erratic decisions. The Woonsocket police union gave him a vote of no confidence in December.

The temporary takeover comes on the heels of an allegation made by former Patrolwoman Marsha Bish against Houle, her ex-husband, and Dubois. Bish, who resigned Feb. 29, alleges that Houle and Dubois changed test scores on police exams in 2004 to get her on the Police Department. While on the force, Bish was reprimanded for her handling of a domestic violence case and most recently she had been suspended for two months without pay with four other officers for their failure to notice that a woman who spent the night in lockup had smuggled a gun into her cell.

John Scully, the president of the Woonsocket police union, notified Menard of Bish’s allegations Feb. 28. Houle resigned March 3, saying, “My credibility as Chief and attempts to make positive changes in the Police Department continue to be stonewalled and challenged. This is due to misleading and false information being provided to the media and lack of support by various people who have chosen to become involved and interfere with the day to day operations of the Woonsocket Police Department.” He was hired to the force in 1981. Menard promoted him to chief in 2005.

When Houle announced his sudden retirement, Menard put Dubois in charge of the department that same day, but a few hours later word got out that Dubois had been taken to Landmark Medical Center for chest pains.

Yesterday, he gave notice of his retirement. “…the last 2 years have proven to be one struggle after another. Whether it was dealing with certain members of the City Council trying to have me removed from my position, or the constant interference from union officials in almost everything the Chief and I tried to do, the job I once loved became a constant strain,” Dubois said. Dubois said his work affected his health.

A majority of the seven-member council railed against what they believed to be Menard’s political promotion of Houle and Dubois. The council is in the process of hiring a company to conduct a management study of the department and investigate many of the incidents that have occurred.

Officers who attended the news conference said they were relieved the chief and deputy chief were gone, alleging that their mismanagement placed a continuous cloud over the department.

Several incidents over the past year have placed an unwelcome spotlight on the department. Last spring, Houle was suspended for improperly destroying drug case evidence. He admitted to violating police protocol by incinerating eight large cardboard boxes filled with bags of various drugs in March of last year but asserted the evidence was contaminated with blood and uncapped drug needles. After that, an officer was charged with computer tampering and a captain and lieutenant who had been suspended by Houle for their involvement in the investigation of that case won their case in court. Last month, five officers were suspended for the gun smuggling incident.

Detective Alan Leclaire, who has been on the police force for 17 years, attended the news conference and afterward called the takeover fantastic. “Hopefully this will take us in the right direction. This is the biggest step we have taken to repair morale.”

Croce said that he would meet with command staff to assess morale and determine how the department can make it better.

Roger Biron, a detective on the force for 21 years, said that the last couple of years had been difficult for police officers.

“[The chief and deputy chief] have made statements about the effects this has had on their families. Well, it has affected all the families of the men and women working here, too,” he said.

tpina@projo.com