Williamstown Sergeant Placed on Administrative Leave

iBerkshirees.com reports a  Williamstown police officer who filed a federal lawsuit over harassment claims last year is now being investigated for an employee complaint against him.

Town Manager Jason Hoch confirmed on Saturday that Sgt. Scott McGowan was placed on paid administrative leave this week.

McGowan was removed from active duty on Monday.

The leave was first reported Friday by The Berkshire Eagle, which also revealed several run-ins McGowan had with the law 20 years or more ago.

McGowan, a full-time police officer in the town since 2002, last year named then Chief Kyle Johnson, Hoch and the town as defendants in a suit alleging discrimination and retaliation against a whistle-blower in federal court last year.

He alleged that officials named in the suit had allowed or covered up incidents of racism and harassment in the Police Department and then had discriminated against him for reporting them.