Chief of Police v. City Manager

Medford operates under a Plan E charter. G. L. c. 43, §§ 93 to 116, inclusive, as amended. At the initiation on August 22,1979, of this proceeding for declaratory relief, the defendant was city manager of Medford (the city manager), and the plaintiff was acting as the city’s chief of police (the chief). The controversy (concerning the authority and powers of the city manager and the chief, respectively, under the relevant statutory provisions constituting Medford’s present charter and Medford’s ordinances) arises out of the circumstances described below.

On August 17, 1979, the city manager…