WILLIAMSTOWN â The Williamstown sergeant who filed a federal civil lawsuit alleging bias and sexual harassment within the townâs Police Department has dropped the case, saying through his attorney that he now seeks to fix problems from within.
The action Tuesday in U.S. District Court followed the announcement Monday that Chief Kyle Johnson had resigned, effective that day. Lt. Michael Ziemba is serving as interim chief.
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âAs a result of many people asking difficult questions, and recent actions by the town and the Select Board, [Sgt. Scott McGowan] believes that Williamstown is committed to making the changes necessary to have a Police Department that is run in a way that everyone can be proud of.â
Johnson s departure was announced early in Monday s Select Board meeting by Town Manager Jason Hoch, who, along with Johnson and the town, is a named defendant in a federal discrimination lawsuit brought by Sgt. Scott McGowan. That lawsuit, which came to light in August, raised allegations of sexual misconduct and racist behaviors in the WPD that touched off months of protest in the North Berkshire community. McGowan, who released his statement through resident and supporter Janice Loux, wrote that his decision to end the lawsuit came in response to Johnson s departure. After receiving the news, I have reflected on my current litigation with the Town, including the climate of distrust in our community, McGowan wrote. As such, I have reached a difficult decision to withdraw my federal lawsuit as I see this moment as an opportunity to join in our community s healing.
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The Williamstown, Massachusetts police chief has resigned following months of outcry after allegations of racism and sexual misconduct in his department rocked the community this summer.
In August, Sergeant Scott McGowan filed a complaint in U.S. district court against the town accusing Chief Kyle Johnson of overseeing a department where racial discrimination and sexual harassment went on regularly. He specifically accused Johnson of sexually assaulting male and female members of the force, verbally demeaning women and turning a blind eye to incidents like a dispatcher using the N-word while a Black Williams College student was touring the station and an officer hanging a picture of Hitler in his locker for years. McGowan’s lawyer, David A. Russcol, spoke to WAMC then.