Never one to shy away from weighing in on politics, Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard made his feelings clear in the race for governor this week, backing Democrat Colin Van Ostern.
"As I've gotten to know Colin, I've been impressed by his concern for every community in this state," Willard wrote in post on his personal Facebook page. "He met with me well over a year ago to wrap his head around what we have been experiencing as a community with the drug crisis and he did so long before it became politically expedient."
Willard got into a public spat with Van Ostern's opponent, Republican Chris Sununu, earlier this year when Sununu criticized the response of state and local leaders to the heroin and opioid epidemic.
Williard called Sununu's comment "idiotic"
Willard also spoke out earlier this year following the fatal shooting of five Dallas police officers. In a letter to his officers, Willard blamed "vitriol" from the media and President Barack Obama's administration for putting officers' lives in danger.
"I often push back against the media and politicians portraying LE (law enforcement) as killers of young black men, as if we do so systematically, and even the administration in the White House seems to feed that narrative," Willard wrote. "I've said such vitriol toward LE is going to bring the crazy out of people and place police officers lives in jeopardy, well, here we are."
Willard later said he regretted sending that letter.
"Perhaps the word 'vitriol' was a bit strong," Willard said. "My vocabulary is off, I think, at times."
