Chelsea Officer Involved In Controversial Traffic Stop Keeps Job

Town leaders in Chelsea met Tuesday night to decide the fate of a police officer who arrested a local businessman for suspected DUI.

On May 12, 2015, the council voted to keep the town administrator in his position even after police said he showed up at the scene and tried to keep his friend out of jail.

5/12/2015 Related Story: Arrest Of Chelsea Businessman Creates Tension Between City, Police

Tuesday, a calmer meeting was held in the city council office which focused on the police officer who made the arrest.

Town leaders voted to keep Officer Nicholas Pappe in his position.

"If you could get me a free pass tonight, I would really appreciate it," you can hear in the video of a traffic stop that sparked controversy in Chelsea.

Pappe pulled over local businessman Brian Haggard for a suspected DUI. During the stop, Haggard called town administrator Kenny Weast, who showed up at the scene.

During the first town meeting councilors reviewed the video and voted to keep Weast in his position but put off voting on Pappe's future with the department.

At Tuesday night's meeting, in a vote three against one, councilors decided Pappe could keep his job, something Chief Chris Bohl said he was pleased with.

"I am surprised, pleasantly surprised. I'm glad they removed him from probation," he said.

It's standard for any new officer to be on a six-month probationary period. Pappe was already serving that when he arrested Haggard.

Since the traffic stop caused such an uproar in the town police weren't sure what it meant for Pappe's future with the department.

"I think he is a very good officer. We record all of his traffic stops and he is very professional, I think he deserves to come off of probation, he has proved himself well,” Bohl said.

Now Bohl hopes everyone can move forward and focus on mending fences.

"Right now we are repairing. We have to work together and make things better. We learn by our mistakes and go on," he said.

After the last meeting, officers said the clear divide created tension and a hostile work environment.

Bohl said he has been meeting with the councilors and they are finding some common ground.