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Date: 6/6/2022
BRIMFIELD – Almost one year after being dismissed from the Brimfield Police Force, Ryan Olszta, former officer, is looking to reconstruct his reputation after unfounded allegations slandered his name.
The allegations were made by Michael Miller, a former Board of Selectmen member, during the board’s regular meeting on June 28, 2021. On the agenda for this meeting was officer appointments. Olszta told Reminder Publishing he “got wind” that Miller had a concern with him, and although Miller did not express the complaint, he said in the meeting he believed the matter could subject the former officer to criminal prosecution.
Ultimately, this led to Olszta not being reappointed to his position, along with Brimfield Police Chief Charles Kuss, starting an investigation into the matter.
According to a letter written by Kuss that was addressed to the Board of Selectmen on September 25, 2021, the incident that Miller was referring to occurred on the evening of Annual Town Meeting. At this time, town elections had not yet taken place and Olszta was still serving as a selectman, along with his employment in the Police Department. Miller was serving as the town moderator.
Kuss’ letter read, “As part of the opening ceremonies to the meeting, a group of Boy Scouts brought the flag into the Great Hall. Mr. Miller, Officer Olszta and the remainder of the Selectboard were all seated up on the stage. Some took quiet notice of one of the young men in the Scout contingent. Mr. Miller explained he did not ask anyone about the young man while at the meeting.”
Kuss said when the meeting concluded, a group of attendees went to Applebee’s in Sturbridge. The group included Miller, his wife, Olszta, Selectman Michael Doyle, Town Attorney Jonathan Silverstein and Finance Committee member Patrick Kubala.
“According to Mr. Miller, at one point he addressed Officer Olszta and asked, “What’s up with the young man” in the Scouts? Mr. Olszta responded by saying, “I arrested one of them,” or “I arrested him,” and then added … “and yeah, he’s still under counseling.” The conversation then moved on to other things as Mr. Miller recalled. Mr. Miller reports they did not discuss the issue again,”” said Kuss.
Kuss explained that Miller viewed Olszta’s comments as “too explanatory” and “a breach of the laws requiring confidentiality in matters involving minors.”
Prior to speaking with Olszta, Kuss spoke with Miller’s wife as well. He said her recollection of the conversation between Miller and Olszta was slightly different from her husbands, although they made similar statements.
“Typically, an investigator would interview all the witnesses who were at Applebee’s that evening. And that was my intention, I had calls in to Jonathan at KP Law, and also to Mr. Doyle. But a few days after Mr. and Mrs. Miller’s interview, I interviewed Officer Olszta in my office at the police station before I had a chance to speak to any other potential witness. Officer Olszta was not averse to being interviewed and was quite frank with me,” said Kuss.
Olszta recalled the conversation he had with Miller, to which he admitted to partaking in. He told Kuss that the conversation was instigated by Miller, and he never identified the young man by name, mentioned specific criminal charges or released any medical information. Olszta said the conversation did not last longer than two minutes and he did not bring up the topic again.
As the three individuals shared similar recollections of the conversations, Kuss decided an interview with the two other people at Applebee’s was not necessary.
In order to determine if Olszta had violated the state statute as alleged by Miller’s complaint, Kuss decided to ask Assistant District Attorney David Chivers, at the Palmer District Court for an opinion on the matter.
After sharing all the information from the incident, Kuss said Chivers asked a few questions and said he would get back to him. “A day later he called again. Attorney Chivers explained he, and his boss at the DA’s [District Attorney’s] Office in Springfield, all agreed the facts of the case don’t rise to a violation of the statute. They don’t meet any of the criteria required. Attorney Chivers explained that it was not the intention of the statute to apply in these types of incidents. The statute was intended to restrict the release of specific CORI [Criminal Offender Record Information] to unauthorized persons. Mr. Miller may have believed the simple mention of a case against a juvenile was a violation, but in a practical application of the statute, it is not,” said Kuss.
Additionally, Kuss said Olszta did not make any administrative violations, nor did he have any similar previous reprimands.
Kuss said the conversation that took place at Applebee’s could have been harmless, had it ended there. However, by taking this conversation and sharing it with others, along with addressing it at a Board of Selectmen meeting, may have caused more harm.
Although Kuss and the DA’s Office found no clear or direct violation on the matter, Olszta said the ongoing situation has left an impact.
Right before his dismissal, Olszta had hit his seven-year mark on the Brimfield Police Force. Additionally, he served as a school resource officer, a school liaison, conducted investigation work, served as a taser instructor and more. Olszta said he “brought a lot to the Police Department.”
He said, “The [Brimfield] Police Department has suffered since this all happened.”
Olszta told Reminder Publishing that he would rejoin the Police Department, but first, there needs to be change. “I wouldn’t come back unless there’s some autonomy,” said Olszta. A citizen’s petition was submitted for the upcoming Annual Town Election on June 13, which is a request for internal hiring and firing of police officers, to be done by the chief. Olszta said if this does not pass, what happened to him could happen to someone else.
He noted that he would also run again for the Board of Selectmen. He previously served on the board for three years.
“I think that’s [how] it started with him,” said Olszta, in reference to the tension with Miller, as he ran for Miller’s seat on the board and won. However, he said that he believes the larger reason pertains to flea market bylaws. “Miller’s wife is a field owner” at the flea market, said Olszta. He added that Suzanne Collins, chair of the board, is a field owner as well.
Olszta said he “became a target” with the bylaws, as he was responsible for clarifying and further defining some of them. He explained that he helped the police chief and other Board of Selectmen members with these bylaws, although he never made any changes.
“I have never been against the flea market, ever. I have always supported it,” said Olszta.
When the allegations against Olszta were presented, he said he received a huge amount of support from people in town. “[There were] far more people supporting [me] than against [me],” he said. Olszta said there were over 200 signs in support of him displayed across town, along with people reaching out privately in support. Olszta added that 600 people petitioned the board for his reappointment and they ignored it, he claimed.
“[It’s] crazy how far [the] town has slipped in a year,” he said. “The Brimfield atmosphere has turned upside down.”
Currently, Olszta is going through a legal battle and is suing the town. He said he is “righting what’s been wrong.”
Aside from this, Olszta said he has returned to working with animals – something he has always been passionate about.
Since his name has been cleared, Olszta noted that two of the Board of Selectmen members, Doyle and Paul McCarthy, have reached out and apologized for ruining his reputation. He said they were the only two to “do the right thing” in this whole dilemma.
Olszta said George Adams, scout master in Brimfield, also played a role in this. He said Adams asked meeting attendees to think about the child being impacted by all of this. After being cleared, Olszta said he has spoken to Adams once, and asked [Adams] if he would be receiving an apology. Olszta said Adams wanted to have a sit-down conversation before an apology was provided. Olszta said he has not heard from Miller.
He went on to describe this entire battle as “malicious” and “a well calculated hit.” Nonetheless, he said, “I want people to know that I’ve been cleared and restore a bit of my reputation that was affected. I want to get on with my life.”
Reminder Publishing reached out to Miller and Collins and did not receive comment by press time.