In July 2018, Officer Richard Hamel was accused of assaulting Matthew Whitney while Whitney was handcuffed and restrained during a response to a possible suicide attempt. Whitney filed a lawsuit in January 2023 alleging that Hamel cursed at him, hit him in the face, and pulled his ear with great force, resulting in bruises and emotional distress. Hamel and the town denied any wrongdoing, and a settlement in the lawsuit is pending.
[Return to blog post](https://watchaudits.com/officer-richard-hamel-wolcott-police-department/)
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