A special prosecutor will be assigned to look into charges against the town of New Berlin police chief, Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride said Friday.
Richard P. Kellar, 43, of Norwich, was charged with third-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor, after an assault Thursday in the hamlet of South New Berlin, Chenango County deputies said. Kellar was off duty at the time he allegedly caused physical injury to a 42-year-old male, deputies said, but the time of the incident was not available Friday.
He was issued an appearance ticket and is to appear in Norwich Town Court on Thursday, deputies said.
New Berlin Town Supervisor Ross Iannello said Friday that Kellar was on paid administrative leave while the details of the incident were being investigated.
Councilman Roger Foote, liaison to the police department, said Kellar is the only full-time police officer on staff. While Kellar is on leave, four part-time staff members will pick up the slack with help from Chenango deputies and state troopers, Foote said.
The arrangements will provide the necessary police protection for the town, he said. Neither town official said they had any details of the incident Friday.
Deputies referred all questions about the assault charge to McBride, who said that he asked county Judge W. Howard Sullivan to assign a special prosecutor, one not from New Berlin, "to avoid the appearance of impropriety."
McBride said that because he works regularly with Kellar, it would be inappropriate for him to be involved with the case. He also said he did not want to discuss the case before the special prosecutor is appointed. That appointment could result in a change in Kellar's pending court appearance, McBride said.
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