In May 2020, Sgt. Gerald J. Peters Jr. used pepper spray on a handcuffed individual, Christopher Spetland, who was seated in a wheelchair and exhibiting combative behavior. Peters then removed Spetland from the wheelchair and forced him to the ground. This action was deemed a violation of the department’s use of force policy, leading to Peters’ termination in May 2021 after 19 years of service. In February 2023, a state labor arbitration board determined that Peters was wrongfully terminated and should be reinstated. However, in July 2023, Superior Court Judge Ann E. Lynch overturned this decision, concluding that reinstating an officer terminated for excessive force violates public policy. Subsequently, in July 2024, Peters filed a $100 million lawsuit against the city, Police Chief William Baldwin, Attorney Eric Daigle, and the Daigle Law Group, alleging civil rights violations, wrongful termination, emotional distress, and other claims.
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