Two officers who were on Monadnock Region police departments during incidents that included them on the state’s exculpatory evidence schedule say they shouldn’t be on it.
The exculpatory evidence schedule, also known as the “Laurie List,” is a document that contains the names of officers and incidents of misconduct. The list can be used by attorneys to identify officers with possible credibility issues that need to be disclosed to defendants. The full list was released to the public last week, though portions were heavily redacted, and in many cases, there is little to no information about the incidents that led to the officer’s inclusion.
Jaffrey police officer Joe Hileman was included for a 2012 incident of “dereliction of duty,” but Hileman said that mischaracterizes the incident.
In an interview with the Ledger-Transcript Thursday, Hileman said in 2012, he was a full-time detective with the Jaffrey Police Department. The incident which included him on the list was a matter of returning property to its owner without the proper court order, he said. Jaffrey Police Chief Todd Muilenberg confirmed that the incident involved an investigation in 2012, where it was determined that Hileman “violated internal policies related to reporting procedures and the proper management of seized property.”
Hileman said he did act improperly at the time, and the incident was investigated and reviewed thoroughly at the time by the police chief at the time as well as the county attorney and superior and district court judges.
“It’s not what people think it is,” Hileman said of being included on the list for “dereliction of duty.” “It’s unfortunate and unfair, and not in the spirit of what the list was intended to do.”
Hileman retired from full-time policing in 2017, but still works for the Jaffrey department part-time as an officer. He said he doesn’t intend to fight his inclusion on the list through legal means, but said he still protests it.
“It’s shed an unfortunate light, because people don’t understand what it really was,” Hileman said. “I’ve worked in town a long time and I want people to have confidence in me.”
Muilenberg confirmed he was aware of the incident prior to the release of the list. He stated he had no issues with Hileman remaining on the force as a part-time officer, and that the issue had been dealt with properly at the time.
“He was rightfully held accountable for his actions and was disciplined accordingly per Jaffrey Police Department policy. He was later added to the Laurie List after a review by the County Attorney’s Office determined he met the current criteria for inclusion,” Muilenberg stated.
Muilenberg stated incidents such as the one Hileman is included for don’t help to meet the goals of the exculpatory evidence schedule, and should be limited to more-serious offenses and violation of public trust.
“Whereas I believe the Laurie List, also known as the exculpatory evidence schedule, is important in that it ensures transparency, accountability and helps to build and sustain the public’s trust, it is my opinion that criteria for inclusion should be amended so that it is limited to significant categories such as intentional acts of misconduct, excessive use of force and integrity violations,” Muilenberg stated.
According to Muilenberg, none of those applied to the incident Hileman was included for, and said it was a “disservice” to Hileman and the Jaffrey Police Department.
“In Officer Hileman’s case, none of these categories applied. Although administrative mistakes were made, it is my opinion that Officer Hileman’s actions did not constitute a ‘dereliction of duty’ as it is described, nor did it rise to a level that would warrant inclusion on a list that automatically brings an officer’s credibility into question,” Muilenberg stated. “ What our citizens need to know is that as chief of police, if I had reason to doubt Officer Hileman’s honor, integrity or credibility he would not be employed by this agency. He has my support and we are fortunate to have him working with us.”
Melissa Hetrick also has questions about her inclusion on the list, as reported in The Keene Sentinel. Beside her name, the EES lists Dublin Police Department as the reporting agency but the date of incident and category are both listed as “unknown.”
“I’m still in the work of getting my name off that list,” Hetrick said. “It should not be there.”
While she said she is no longer in law enforcement, Hetrick said she is proud of her previous work at New Hampshire departments, including Swanzey, Hancock and Hinsdale. She said she does not know what could have possibly led to her inclusion.
“It’s horrible; it’s absolutely horrible,” Hetrick said. “I take pride in my honesty and my credibility and all of the above. It’s smearing a good person’s name for no reason.”
Hetrick said she has been in contact with the Attorney General’s Office as well as a former chief who may have placed her on the list, in an effort to have her name removed. She declined to share that chief’s name.
The Dublin Police Department did not return a phone request for comment.
Ryan Spencer of The Keene Sentinel contributed to this story through the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.