TURNERS FALLS — Montague’s acting police chief will remain on paid administrative leave indefinitely while the judicial process plays out following his Friday arraignment on an assault and battery charge, Select Board Chairman Richard Kuklewicz said Monday.
Lt. Christopher Bonnett’s arraignment in Franklin County District Court in Greenfield on the single charge of assault and battery on a household member followed his arrest that morning after an alleged altercation with his girlfriend.
Bonnett, Montague’s acting police chief since last fall, pleaded not guilty. His next court date is scheduled for a pretrial conference on Aug. 9.
State police were contacted around 1:12 a.m. Friday, after Montague police relayed a domestic call involving one of its own officers to the state’s Shelburne Barracks, according to court records.
After speaking with the girlfriend, who had slight swelling above her eyebrow, a small cut to the inside of her lip, bruising to the upper part of her leg and redness to her knee, state police troopers found probable cause for an arrest, court documents state.
Police said that the woman declined medical attention. Asked if she wanted an emergency restraining order, she declined, according to court records.
Bonnett was released on personal recognizance and with the condition that there is no further abuse to the woman. He cooperated with state police, according to court records, providing police with the code to his gun safe at home. His guns were taken from his home as evidence.
Montague has been without a permanent police chief since October 2017, when the board placed then-chief Charles “Chip” Dodge on administrative leave. Dodge resigned from the department in March, but was put on administrative leave until Feb. 12, 2019, while he collects his annual salary of $105,000.
Staff Sgt. Chris Williams, the highest ranking officer on staff, is the new acting police chief. He provides “the depth in the bench, sort of speak, to ensure we have someone we feel very good with in being qualified for the role,” Town Administrator Steve Ellis said.
Williams previously held the role of acting chief from Nov. 27, 2011 to July 31, 2012. Regardless of who the officer was and the crime that was charged, Kuklewicz said the board would have taken similar actions following an arrest.
“We’re just trying to let the process play out to be as fair as possible to Lt. Bonnett,” he said.
This latest development and the search for a permanent chief are expected to be discussed at the Select Board meeting on July 9.
Unrelated to the Bonnett incident, Kuklewicz said the board was already anticipating a discussion on bids for an independent contractor to help determine the next chief, as based on civil service protocol.
Bonnet was likely going to be a candidate, Kuklewicz said, but he’s not sure what this incident might mean for his potential bid.
“We want to ensure the public understands, the force itself is there and is doing its job and doing it well,” Ellis said. “It’s unfortunate that situations like these arise that create reasonable concern in the community.”