By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

A internal police investigation documenting numerous incidents of insubordination and unacceptable performance has led the Epsom Board of Selectmen to fire a 10-year veteran of the police department.

Keith Yeaton was released from town employment after the board heard testimonials for nearly five hours at a Monday, Oct. 3, hearing.

Police officials cited numerous reasons for the dismissal of Yeaton including his involvement in an Aug. 1 incident in which a woman who appeared to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol crashed her car, which also held her child, on Route 4 in Epsom.

Sgt. Brian Michael, who is second in command in the department, said Yeaton mishandled the investigation in several ways by not conducting a standard field sobriety test on the subject, attempting to pass the investigation to officers from other agencies and by sending the woman to Concord Hospital for involuntary emergency admission (IEA).

Michael said IEA is generally “for someone potentially suicidal,” but that patients who are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol are not allowed admission. The woman was not admitted to the hospital and was subsequently released without arrest.

Following the incident, Police Chief Wayne Preve ordered Michael to conduct the internal investigation.

According to Michael's testimony, he approached Yeaton - with Selectman Joni Kitson as witness - on Aug. 30, informing him of the investigation. Michael said Yeaton refused to answer questions, despite direct orders to do so.

Michael then ordered Yeaton to surrender his weapon.

"He was highly upset," said Michael. "He stood up. He raised his voice. He was argumentative."

Michael continued, "He stated that the town was out of control. He stated that he was going to sue the town."

Yeaton shortly surrendered his gun, said Michael, but it was found not to be in working condition.

John Krupski, an attorney representing the police department, pointed out records describing the gun as dirty, rusty, malfunctioning and unserviceable.

"It causes a danger to the individual officer and the officers he backs up, as well as civilians," Michael said of the gun.

Michael also cited police records showing that Yeaton made five stops in a six-week period, while two other full-time officers working similar hours during that time period recorded 92 and 126 stops.

"He said he was on strike," said Michael. "He didn't like the schedule.

Police officials also accused Yeaton of failing to record activity in the police log for hours at a time, and of directing traffic for three hours in a nearby town without notifying a supervising officer. Michael said Yeaton was the only Epsom officer on duty at the time.

Preve told the board that he'd attempted to modify Yeaton's behavior in the past through both formal means and through informal discussions in his office. Preve said he issued a written warning to Yeaton dated May 24, regarding several charges.

"Nothing's changed," he said. Likening the department's chain of command to a military operation, Preve said, "If you refuse to do an order of a superior, disciplinary action should be taken."

Preve said the final decision to request Yeaton's termination was difficult.

"We all have families we have to support," he said. "We all have houses to upkeep. But I have to look at the big picture."

The selectmen's vote to terminate Yeaton was unanimous. Kitson recused herself from the hearing and was replaced - at the advice of town counsel that the board consist of an odd number - by former selectman Richard Todd.

Yeaton couldn't be reached for comment by press time.

Tony Soltani, an attorney representing the town, said if Yeaton were to appeal the decision it would go to Superior Court.