According to Boston 25 News, the Middleton Select Board voted 4-0 to end Police Chief William Sampson’s employment when his contract expires on June 30, a decision that comes as Sampson pursues a lawsuit against the town alleging disability discrimination and retaliation. The board’s vote followed a public hearing earlier in the week where attorneys for both Sampson and the town laid out dueling versions of his tenure atop the department.
A Vote Years in the Making
Sampson has served as Middleton’s police chief since 2021, as reported by Boston 25 News and the Boston Globe. His path toward an exit began months earlier, when the Select Board voted in executive session on Aug. 4 not to renew the three-year contract extension he had signed in May 2024. Under the town’s charter, officials were required to hold a public hearing before any vote to terminate him outright, which set the stage for this week’s proceeding and the board’s 4-0 decision to cut his employment short at the end of June.
At that hearing, the town’s attorney pointed to what was described as a communication breakdown and apathy in how Sampson carried out his duties as chief, according to Boston 25 News. Sampson’s attorney pushed back, telling the board that the chief had never previously been disciplined and had never been told he was the subject of any investigation or disciplinary action before the dispute escalated.
The Lawsuit at the Center of the Dispute
Sampson’s legal fight with Middleton predates this week’s vote. As noted by Boston 25 News, his lawsuit alleges that he returned from leave tied to an on-duty injury only to be confronted roughly a week later with an ultimatum from the town administrator: resign or accept a disciplinary improvement plan. That plan, Sampson’s attorney said, handed the town administrator sole authority to evaluate the chief’s performance and decide whether his contract should be terminated.
Sampson’s complaint also alleges he was hurt a second time in two years during a mandatory firearm evaluation, per the Globe’s report. Town Administrator Justin Sultzbach disputed Sampson’s characterization of the evaluations, countering that they reflected poor performance on the job rather than any unfair treatment tied to his injuries. The Globe’s account of the hearing did not include a full back-and-forth from both sides, and the town has not otherwise commented publicly on the pending litigation.
What Happens Next
Sampson’s lawsuit against the town and Sultzbach remains pending in court, and this week’s termination vote does not resolve those claims. The case continues even as Sampson’s tenure as chief is now set to formally end on June 30. Boston 25 News describes the situation as a developing story, and no additional details on the litigation’s next steps have been made public.
