Troopers open investigation of Woodstock police chief

Woodstock Police Chief Joseph Swanson has been placed on paid administrative leave after town leaders asked Vermont State Police to investigate his alleged involvement in an unspecified incident.

A state police detective from outside of the Woodstock area is looking into the matter, and Municipal Manager Eric Duffy has pledged the full cooperation of local leaders.

According to Vermont News First , the incident occurred in the aftermath of “a motor vehicle incident” involving a Woodstock lawyer. Neither Woodstock officials nor state police have confirmed that information.

Public records show that Chief Swanson was once the chair of the Woodstock Selectboard before resigning in July 2023 when he was promoted to chief. He is also the son of the late Philip Swanson , the longtime former municipal manager after whom Woodstock’s emergency services building is named .

In a statement, Duffy wrote in part, “The Town and Village of Woodstock is committed to ensuring that complaints regarding our police officers are addressed in an appropriate fashion.”

Adam Silverman, public information officer for Vermont State Police, said, “ It is important to note that, generally speaking, just because an investigation involves a specific individual, that does not necessarily mean the individual is a target of the investigation.”

Attempts to reach Swanson were unsuccessful. A phone number for the chief listed online was disconnected Thursday evening. Woodstock Police Sgt. Christopher O’Keeffe, serving as acting chief, had gone home for the day prior to an attempt to reach him.

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