A small town in Massachusetts is at the center of a heated dispute that has pitted its town administrator against the local police chief, all over a Trump flag displayed in the police department’s gym. The issue came to light in January when West Boylston Police Chief Dennis Minnich was giving a tour of the department. During the tour, Town Administrator James Ryan reportedly spotted a Trump flag hanging in the police gym, a private area within the department. The next day, Ryan allegedly ordered Minnich to remove the flag, claiming it constituted a civil rights violation and demanded that it be sent to his office. This directive sparked a tense confrontation between the two officials, with Minnich refusing to comply, arguing that Ryan’s order was both unlawful and illegitimate.
The situation escalated further when Minnich accused Ryan of taking additional steps to enforce his directive. According to Minnich, Ryan discreetly sent another town employee to the police department after hours to check if the flag had been removed. When the employee found that the original flag had been replaced with a new one, it appears Ryan’s frustration grew. In response, Minnich took matters into his own hands, removing both the original and the new flag. However, the police chief did not stop there; he filed a formal complaint against Ryan, alleging that the town administrator’s actions were inappropriate and unprofessional. This complaint has now led to a hearing scheduled for Monday, where Ryan’s employment with the town may be terminated as a result of the dispute.
The conflict has drawn significant attention, with both sides presenting starkly different versions of events. Minnich has been vocal in his criticism of Ryan, claiming that the town administrator overstepped his authority by demanding the removal of the flag. “I never told the officers they couldn’t hang a President Trump flag up. I don’t think that’s legit,” Minnich told FOX 25 Boston. “I think it’s illegal. It’s unlawful for him to demand that I turn it over to him. It’s certainly not right.” Minnich also expressed a broader distrust of Ryan, stating, “He’s lied to me. He questioned my integrity. Everybody has their opinion, but I don’t trust it. Right now, it’s, as far as I’m concerned, hostile. I don’t trust the man, not going to work for the guy.” Minnich’s comments suggest a deep breakdown in the professional relationship between the two men, with the police chief going so far as to say he would not report directly to Ryan upon returning to work, and instead would seek to answer to the Board of Selectmen.
James Ryan’s attorney, John Clifford, has responded to these allegations, dismissing them as unfounded and politically motivated. Clifford confirmed that the West Boylston Select Board has decided to terminate Ryan based solely on Minnich’s accusations, despite what Clifford describes as a lack of evidence. “As absurd as these allegations are, the Select Board has decided to terminate Mr. Ryan based solely on Chief Minnich’s allegations,” Clifford said in a statement to FOX 25. “It is not a hearing, as the outcome is a foregone conclusion.” Clifford also criticized Minnich for declining to participate in Monday’s hearing, accusing the police chief of turning the situation into a “political circus” and embarrassing both himself and the town. Clifford further noted that Minnich had declined to meet privately with Ryan to resolve the issue, which he believes could have been addressed through rational dialogue. “James [Ryan] has never taken a position for or against President Trump or any political candidate or party,” Clifford said. “That being said, the West Boylston police station is a public building, period. If Chief Minnich had engaged the Town Administrator in a rational or thoughtful dialogue, they could have resolved this issue in any one of a number of ways.”
The dispute has sparked a broader debate about free speech, workplace policies, and the role of public officials. The police gym, while technically a private area within the police station, is still part of a public building, raising questions about whether political expressions of this kind are appropriate in such spaces. Proponents of free speech argue that the display of the Trump flag is a form of political expression protected under the First Amendment, while others contend that such displays in public buildings could be seen as endorsements of a particular political viewpoint, potentially creating a hostile or biased environment for some employees or members of the public. The situation also highlights the delicate balance that public officials must strike when addressing sensitive or politically charged issues, particularly in workplace settings.
As the town prepares for Monday’s hearing, which is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m., the outcome appears to be all but certain, with Clifford describing the hearing as a formality given the Select Board’s decision to terminate Ryan. However, the broader implications of this dispute extend far beyond the immediate outcome of the hearing. The case raises important questions about professionalism, due process, and the limits of authority within municipal government. It also underscores the challenges that public officials face in navigating political sensitivities and balancing individual freedoms with institutional responsibilities. Whether the hearing brings closure to this contentious issue or further inflames tensions remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the conflict has left a lasting imprint on the small Massachusetts town and its leadership.
