Manchester Alderman at-Large Joe Kelly Levasseur has accused Manchester Police Chief David J. Mara of covering up an assault committed against him by Manchester Police Patrolman’s Association President Steven Maloney.Levasseur made the charges in an email to Mara following this story posted by Girard at Large regarding Levasseur’s involvement in the investigation of Manchester Police Officer William Soucy on charges he assaulted his girlfriend at his Hooksett home. Below the article, Maloney posted comments Levasseur claims were designed to intimidate him as an elected official. In that complaint, Levasseur alleged that Mara witnessed Maloney poking him in the chest, did nothing to stop it and then ignored it to cover it up.
The incident in question took place in January after a meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. During that meeting, Maloney and several members of the police department, called for Levasseur’s resignation and expressed their disgust at comments Levasseur allegedly made about them during his public access television show. After the meeting, witnesses say Levasseur approached several of the officers, including Maloney and Mara, on the plaza outside City Hall and a rather loud shouting match ensued. The stories are here.
In interviews with Girard at Large, two eyewitnesses, Ward 3 Alderman Patrick Long and Ward 4 Alderman Jim Roy, said there was no physical contact committed by either party. Both agreed the two were “in each others faces,” but said that Maloney never touched Levasseur.
Both men declined to speculate on Levasseur’s motives, but neither believed that Mara was covering anything up.
Yesterday, Mara sent a letter to Attorney General Joseph Foster with Levasseur’s email attached, officially requesting a review of the complaint and an investigation of it if warranted. In an interview with Girard at Large, Mara said that charges of assault against a police officer and a cover up of that assault necessitated his request of the AG’s Office. Here’s Mara’s letter, which includes Levasseur’s email.
We’ll have more on this during tomorrow’s show. Be sure to tune in!
