N.H. Town Hall Closes, Citing Threats After Police Chief Attended Capitol Rally

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A sign supporting U.S. President Donald Trump stands on the roadside in Troy, N.H last year.

Brian Snyder/Reuters

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Brian Snyder/Reuters

Last year, the police chief’s support for Trump allegedly ran afoul of state law, after a video circulated showing a large pro-Trump banner in Ellis’ office. The police chief removed the banner after the county attorney warned that it violated state laws prohibiting political paraphernalia in public buildings.

Ellis’s trip to Washington led to calls for him to resign or be fired. But Thackston and others on Troy’s Board of Selectmen have resisted those calls, saying that while they disapprove of the attack on the Capitol, the police chief was not involved in that part of the day’s events.

Troy’s police station is located directly behind the town hall building, which sits along the town’s central square. The threats target both the Board of Selectmen’s Office as well as town hall employees, according to the Selectmen’s Office.

Thackston said he’s not sure when things will die down.

«Like all of America, we’re waiting to get back to normal — whatever that is, he said. He then asked, «Do we even know what normal is?

The office says it’s maintaining its regular hours – but for now, people can only enter the town hall building if they have an appointment.

«Sorry, but this seems to be required by prudence at this time, the Selectmen’s Office says in its notice to anyone wanting to visit Town Hall.