Vindication Is Rare, Former Sherborn P.D. Chief Wins $1.2 Million Over Dismissal
A Middlesex Superior Court jury has awarded former Sherborn Police Chief Richard Thompson $1.2 million after finding that former Town Administrator David Williams improperly interfered with Thompson’s employment contract.
Thompson was removed from his position in 2020 after the Sherborn Select Board accused him of misconduct, including misuse of authority, workplace intimidation, and fostering a negative environment within the Police Department. Following his dismissal, Thompson filed legal claims against the town, Williams, and Lt. David Bento, who assumed leadership of the department on an interim basis.
After a three-week trial, jurors concluded that Williams intentionally and maliciously caused the town to violate Thompson’s contract. The jury did not find the Town of Sherborn or Bento liable.
In a statement released through his attorney, Joseph Sulman, Thompson said the verdict brought closure after years of personal and professional hardship. He expressed appreciation to the jurors, stating that they carefully reviewed the evidence and determined that Williams had wrongfully targeted him. Thompson also alleged that a female officer had been used as a tool in efforts to remove him from office.
Attorney Tom DiGani, who represented Williams, Bento, and the town, welcomed the jury’s decision clearing both Bento and Sherborn of wrongdoing. However, he said the defense disagreed with the findings against Williams and is considering possible post-trial actions.
According to Thompson’s lawsuit, Williams and Bento worked together to engineer his removal. The complaint alleged that a female officer’s grievance was used as part of that effort. The suit further claimed that Bento was dissatisfied with Thompson’s decision to request the resignation of Bento’s son from a special police officer position and with Thompson’s leadership succession plans.
Court filings indicate tensions between Thompson and town officials began after he questioned whether a former Select Board member had a conflict of interest and submitted an Open Meeting Law complaint to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
The Select Board voted to terminate Thompson in October 2020, nearly two years before his employment agreement was set to end in June 2022.
Thompson had led the Sherborn Police Department since 2009, following approximately ten years with the Framingham Police Department.
The jury reached its liability decision on June 4, determining that Williams knowingly induced the town to breach Thompson’s contract. A week later, the court awarded Thompson damages totaling $1.2 million, including compensation for lost wages, future income, harm to his reputation, and accumulated interest.
Sulman stated that Thompson was unable to secure another law-enforcement position after his dismissal because of the allegations made against him and instead found work in a family-owned business.
The attorney described Thompson as a dedicated public servant whose career was prematurely derailed and praised the jury for recognizing the harm caused by the actions of public officials involved in the case.