[NH] Chief Brougham's wife: I and my children need to be protected

...THE COURT PAPERS QUOTED THE WIFE AS SAYING, BROUGHAM CALLED AND DEMANDED TO SPEAK WITH THE CHILDREN BEFORE INFORMING HER THAT HE HAD A CAN OF GAS AND WAS PLANNING TO BURN THEIR HOME DOWN AROUND HIM... "UNTIL SUCH TIME AS MY HUSBAND GETS SOME HELP FOR HIS RAGING ALCOHOLISM, I AND MY CHILDREN NEED TO BE PROTECTED"... SHE CITES AN INCIDENT MAY 15, WHEN SHE ALLEGES BROUGHAM GOT "VERY DRUNK," AND SEARCHED HER CAR. HE LATER BURNED THE DIVORCE DOCUMENTS IN THE WOODSTOVE... THE PHONE CALL DID NOT INVOLVE A THREAT OF VIOLENCE, SAID [NEW BOSTON POLICE CHIEF CHRIS] KRAJENKA...

Though F says in her court papers that she and their children need to be protected, the articles available don't address that point at all. We find many services back away from officer's wives - and I pray she is getting what she needs for her family... especially as being wife of the chief. The New Boston Police Chief Christopher Krajenka who arrested Chief Broughham states below that Broughham has not threatened violence & that this is NOT "domestic violence." Chief Brougham threatening to set the home on fire with himself in it is extremely violent... both to himself and (intended to be) brutally coercive to F - who he obviously does not want to leave him. It is violent to the very soul of F to deliberately haunt her with the idea of his burning to death, put F in the position of having to determine who else he is capable of killing while in this state of mind, force her into homelessness - with children - on a course of fleeing and fear, and not care that she would be left trying to raise the children ALWAYS ATTEMPTING to compensate for the selfish violence that would then always be a part of her and the children's life and thoughts. Always.

That's not domestic violence? Scaring someone to fear for their life and their children's lives? (I-spy a police department that needs some extensive training.)
From Tacoma Washington where I am - & where our Police Chief David Brame committed murder-suicide on his wife Crystal, in a town that ALSO then had no specific officer-involved domestic violence policy, I take notice in these news articles that Mont Vernon doesn't know yet what to do. They are working on it - but know that it was one day from Tacoma's meeting about our chief until the murder-suicide. Think-time is not to be assumed. If you have a department without a specific policy - take notes, and action - before it happens where you are. To Mont Vernon's credit they have put Brougham on leave and removed his weapon - which Tacoma did not do. But Mont Vernon seems to be downplaying the danger. Please don't do that... ever, anywhere. And don't leave him alone. He needs a couple of shadows. If he doesn't have that - but is on leave with just free time - dear F, please go to another location - unknown to him. I could tell you stories that would send you fleeing from the home of relatives.
POLICE CHIEF CHARGED WITH VIOLATING RESTRAINING ORDER
wmur.com
June 2, 2008
MONT VERNON, N.H. -- The Mont Vernon police chief has been charged with violating an emergency restraining order taken out by his wife. Chief Alexander "Rick" Brougham had to surrender his service weapon under the restraining order and was ordered to have no contact with his wife and three sons. Town selectmen scheduled an emergency closed-door meeting Monday night with an attorney to decide how to handle what they're calling a personnel matter. Selectmen confirmed that Brougham surrendered his weapon and was placed on administrative leave... "When you're talking another law enforcement officer, someone you're familiar with, it's very difficult, but we have to follow the court orders and follow through," [New Boston Police Chief Chris] Krajenka said. Town selectmen said they would open the meeting to the public after meeting in closed session. THEY SAID THEY ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH AUTHORITY THEY HAVE IN THIS SITUATION. Brougham was released on $5,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court on June 4. [Full article here]
PHONE CALL TO WIFE SPURS CHIEF'S ARREST
Nashua Telegraph
By DAYMOND STEER
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
..."He wasn't supposed to call her and he called her," said Christopher Krajenka, New Boston police chief. The phone call did not involve a threat of violence, said Krajenka, who would not release any other details about the call. On Monday, selectmen voted 3-0 to put Brougham on paid administrative leave and hired an attorney. Brougham was out on vacation last week. Daniel Schwarz, of Flygare, Schwarz and Closson, of Exeter, was chosen to represent the selectmen. Schwarz said all questions about the case will be directed to him, AND HE'S CONSIDERING LAUNCHING AN EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHAT SELECTMEN SHOULD DO WITH BROUGHAM. He hasn't determined who would conduct such an investigation. "These are allegations at this point," Selectman Jack Esposito said. "We're not jumping to conclusions"... Because of the arrest, Brougham's weapon had to be returned to the town of Mont Vernon, said Krajenka... Until further notice Cpl. Aaron Daigneault will be in charge of the force. Brougham, who has been chief for three years, will be arraigned in Goffstown District Court on June 17... According to court papers, Brougham's wife filed for divorce April 29. In the court papers, she cites an incident May 15, when she alleges Brougham got "very drunk," and searched her car. He later burned the divorce documents in the woodstove in their home, she alleged. The next day, the woman and her three children left the house to stay with her parents in Nashua... she reported getting eight to 10 phone calls from Brougham at her mother's home. At around 9:30 p.m., the court papers quoted the wife as saying, Brougham called and demanded to speak with the children before informing her that he had a can of gas and was planning to burn their home down around him. Two days later, he called again and informed her of suicidal thoughts. "Until such time as my husband gets some help for his raging alcoholism, I and my children need to be protected," she wrote in her affidavit seeking the emergency protective order. The court order says his wife shall have responsibility for her children, he may not interfere with her personal liberty or property, she may have sole use of the property, he cannot enter the property and each party cannot dispose of the property of the other. There is a hearing on the order scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester... [Full article here]

MONT VERNON POLICE CHIEF PUT ON PAID LEAVE
New Hampshire Union Leader
By Nancy Foster
June 3, 2008
..."This was not a domestic violence arrest," said Krajenka. "There was no violence involved, no threats involved. He made a phone call." Though the original court order did not prohibit Brougham from carrying a weapon, the conditions of his bail have made carrying a firearm illegal, Krajenka said. As a result, Brougham has been limited in the types of duties he can carry out as chief. "He temporarily can't carry a gun," said Krajenka. "He can still do the administrative portions of his job. He just can't do enforcement. I don't see this being a career-ending thing... On the advice of Town Counsel William Drescher, the board met with labor law attorney Daniel P. Schwarz of Flygare, Schwartz & Closson in closed session last night at Mont Vernon Town Hall. Schwarz recommended, and the three-member board unanimously agreed, that an independent investigation into the chief's conduct be launched. "THE ISSUES FACING THE SELECTMEN ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE ISSUES THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE COURT," said Schwarz. While the court will consider only legal issues regarding Brougham's conduct, it is incumbent upon the selectmen to weigh other considerations such as character, personal issues and other factors that may impact the police chief's ability to fulfill his duties. Schwarz has been charged with recommending an investigator to undertake the probe. Brougham will remain on paid administrative leave until the investigation is completed... [Full article here]