GREENE – Residents from the village of Greene filed into the tightly packed village office Monday night with hopes set on shedding more light into the suspension and subsequent resignation of former Greene Police Chief Steven Dutcher.

Following usual business matters at the first public monthly meeting since Dutcher's departure, residents were polled to address the village trustees regarding any issues that they have, and the matter of Dutcher's dismissal from the Village payroll quickly came to the fore.

“It looks political; is there any way you can tell us about the investigation... like how long it will last?' asked Village resident, Meryt Allmendinger.

In response, Village attorney Robert Larkin said, “Mr. Dutcher was a public service employee, as such he is entitled to complete privacy about his employment – this board cannot legally say a thing about his employment,” Larkin explained. “Secondly, (before) Mr. Dutcher resigned, a criminal investigation was initiated and that investigation is ongoing – where it's going to go, we (the board) do not know because we haven't been informed.”

Larkin, who represents the Village of Greene, went on to explain that the current investigation is out of the village's hands as it is being conducted by members of the New York State Police at this point.

Larkin also would clarify that the pending legal case is being handled by the Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen.

A press release issued by the Village of Greene indicates that on March 27, 2014 Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. appointed Mollen as Special District Attorney for both the ongoing investigation and prosecution of the case.

“While I have no doubt that the Chenango County District Attorney's office would have conducted the matter with complete professionalism, I felt I made an appropriate decision to appoint this matter outside of the county to ensure the procedural integrity of the proceeding,” said Revoir.