AG: East Kingston Police Chief Won't Face Criminal Charges

Attorney General Joseph A. Foster announced Wednesday that East Kingston Police Chief Reid Simpson will not face criminal charges in connection to an incident last May where an inmate allegedly stole drugs from the police station and took a cruiser for a joy ride.

In July of 2013, the Attorney General's Office said it became involved in an investigation regarding issues concerning the East Kingston Police Department’s use of inmate trustees from the Rockingham County House of Corrections.

After thoroughly investigating the inmate trustee issues and overall management of the police department, the attorney general found that while there was substantial mismanagement, lack of proper oversight and improper conduct on Simpson's behalf, his conduct and his actions do not rise to the level of provable criminal conduct and criminal charges will not be initiated.

However, given Simpson’s mismanagement and lack of oversight, he has agreed to resign, effective immediately, as the East Kingston Chief of Police. He has also permanently relinquished his certification as a police officer and will not seek future employment as a police officer.

Simpson was placed leave in August of 2013 as the investigation was being conducted. The inmate, Jarred Brisbois, allegedly took heroin and marijuana from an evidence room.