A local Salem employees union is standing by most of its scathing letter about Selectman Stephen Campbell's behavior after word has come out that Campbell didn't actually interrogate a firefighter in Market Basket last month.
Shawn Patten, president of the Salem Public Administrators Association, spoke with Patch and issued a statement Tuesday after selectmen and Town Manager Keith Hickey revealed Monday night that surveillance video shows Campbell never had contact with a firefighter inside the grocery store on Nov. 17.
The alleged incident involving the firefighter — who has since claimed he was mistaken that the man who interrogated him was Campbell — was only mentioned briefly four paragraphs into the 1 1/2-page letter the union submitted to Hickey.
The letter used the word "abhorrent" to describe some of Campbell's behavior in regard to collective bargaining issues and Campbell's recent concerns about employees' overtime — not just the Market Basket incident.
Patten acknowledged Hickey's findings about the Market Basket incident while saying in a statement that it "is unfortunate that he along with other members of the [board of selectmen] have chosen to focus on" only that one issue "instead of the overall content and purpose of the letter."
"If the singular incident in question did not happen, [Campbell] should seek an apology from the person who made the allegation," said Patten. "It does not erase years of negative conduct and bad behavior."
Patten, who is Salem's deputy police chief, also said that the union didn't seek out the media or send them the letter sent to Hickey, as Campbell has claimed; rather, the issue was discussed publicly during a Salem selectmen meeting.
Campbell has asked the union, Salem Fire Chief Kevin Breen and Selectman Mike Lyons to apologize to him during a public meeting. Lyons' response to that request is detailed here, while Patch couldn't reach Breen for comment Tuesday.
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