The Lockout in Stoughton: A Police Chief, a Town Manager, and the Ghost of Sandra Birchmore
An acute administrative crisis has paralyzed the municipal executive branch of Stoughton, Massachusetts. The standoff, which involves Police Chief Donna McNamara and Town Manager Thomas J. Calter, has escalated into competing personnel complaints, public demonstrations, and a significant debate over the legal boundaries of municipal authority.
The public aspects of the dispute emerged in late July 2026, following a sequence of closed-door administrative actions that occurred earlier in the month. The Stoughton Select Board, the town’s elected executive governing body, has positioned itself as an impartial adjudicator and scheduled a meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, to determine how the town will independently investigate complaints filed against both officials.
This article provides an objective, chronological reconstruction of the standoff, an overview of the key officials, an analysis of the structural charter ambiguities at the center of the legal dispute, and an examination of the upcoming Select Board proceedings.
The July 2026 Timeline: How the Dispute Developed
The current administrative impasse developed rapidly over a three-week period in July 2026:
June 2026: Chief McNamara formally notified Town Manager Calter that she was actively cooperating with federal investigators and anticipated that additional internal affairs investigations might be necessary as the federal murder case against former Stoughton detective Matthew Farwell progressed.
July 7, 2026: Town Manager Thomas Calter, accompanied by a town labor attorney, met with Police Chief Donna McNamara at Town Hall. According to McNamara’s legal counsel, Attorney Leah Barrault, Calter informed McNamara that a complaint had been made against her. He did not disclose the identity of the complainant or the specific allegations. Barrault states that Calter told McNamara she must either resign or face termination, and instructed her not to report to work. Calter later confirmed in an interview that he “had to separate her from the department” but declined to comment on the underlying reasons.
July 9, 2026: A follow-up meeting between Calter and McNamara was scheduled, but it was canceled. Calter stated that McNamara canceled the meeting, while McNamara’s counsel noted she was never formally placed on administrative leave.
July 20, 2026: Chief McNamara filed a formal harassment complaint against Town Manager Calter with the Stoughton Select Board. The complaint accused Calter of engaging in a pattern of gossip, trying to damage her reputation, and calling and texting her personal cell phone nearly daily over a two-week period. Her attorney characterized these actions as a gender-based attempt to force the chief out of her position. Calter acknowledged contacting McNamara during this period but disputed the frequency of the contacts.
July 22, 2026: The town administration released a statement announcing that Deputy Police Chief James O’Connor had been appointed Acting Police Chief. McNamara’s attorney publicly responded, stating that McNamara had not resigned, retired, or voluntarily stepped away, and had only learned of her replacement through media reports. Barrault described the appointment as a constructive discharge and a breach of the chief’s employment contract.
July 23, 2026: Dozens of residents attended a Select Board meeting to express support for McNamara, chanting for her return before the board entered an executive session with counsel. Two of the five Select Board members were absent, and no formal votes were taken.
July 24, 2026: The Select Board issued an official press release confirming that it was processing two separate, concurrent personnel complaints—one filed by McNamara against Calter, and another unspecified complaint involving Chief McNamara that had been brought to the town’s attention. The board stated it had reached no conclusions and committed to a “fair, thorough, and impartial” independent review.
Sunday, July 26, 2026: Hundreds of supporters gathered for a public rally in downtown Stoughton to demand McNamara’s immediate reinstatement.
Monday, July 27, 2026: Chief McNamara filed her formal lawsuit in Norfolk Superior Court, detailing the specific allegations behind her ouster. That evening, Town Manager Calter broke his silence, denying all accusations of sexism and harassment in an interview with the Boston Globe.
