BROOKLINE, MASS. (WHDH) - The Brookline Select Board has unanimously terminated police chief Ashley Alexander Gonzalez, after he allegedly made several “sexually harassing statements” to female colleagues while on the job, according to an independent review’s report by a consulting firm.
“These hateful actions have no place in Brookline,” said Town Administrator Charles Carey. “No matter how powerful you think you are, if you have abused, harassed or discriminated against any member of our municipal staff, you will be found, and you will pay the price.”
The Select Board found that Gonzalez violated the town’s policy against discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation, as well as the department’s rules against “conduct unbecoming a police officer.”
Gonzalez had his disciplinary hearing held in a closed session, then reconvened in open session after the hearing to take its vote.
“(Consulting firm) CIC recommended Gonzalez’s termination after finding multiple admitted, corroborated and sustained allegations of sexual harassment against female employees of the Brookline Police Department in violation of town policies,” the Select Board said.
Gonzalez was sworn in as chief on June 1, after a national search and a background check that included at least 18 reference calls, according to the town administrator. He had been placed on administrative leave on Aug. 1, shortly after town officials received several separate reports of multiple alleged instances of misconduct.
“Imagine the town’s shock and dismay to learn that by the time Mr. Gonzalez arrived in Brookline, he had already begun, weeks earlier, to sexually harass a female subordinate,” Carey said. “The day after his swearing-in, he started sexually harassing a second female subordinate.”
The report featured a number of interviews with employees, including one worker who described how uncomfortable they felt interacting with the now former police chief.
“It was a feeling that I really, I swear to God I’ve never had before, like the way he was looking at me and talking to me was very, like degrading and creepy,” the worker was quoted as saying in the report.
Another employee said Gonzalez called her a sexually suggestive term.
“I think I was in shock, but I was just so insulted,” a worker said. “I was just like, oh my God, this is my boss day 1. His literally (sic) first day in the office with me.”
The report also detailed conversations Gonzalez had with investigators. He told them he got upset and cried at times.
“Looking back as we review these texts, I think my, my intent to be approachable, funny and relatable (has) terribly gone wrong,” he said in reference to some of the texts he sent.
On Friday, Carey thanked the victims for “their bravery in coming forward” and that the former chief’s behavior is not anything the town “will tolerate in any way, shape or form.”
“We have a strict zero-tolerance policy against discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation, and I want to thank the team from Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting for a thorough review of these incidents,” Select Board Chair Heather Hamilton said.
The Brookline Police Union released a statement that read, in part:
“We can only hope that today’s termination sends a clear message to the Select Board and Human Resources Department that business as usual is no longer feasible. The Select Board’s hand-picked choice is another example of putting politics before merit. We believe that they owe Brookline police officers and the community an apology.”
With Gonzalez off the job, an acting chief has been appointed by the town.
(Copyright (c) 2025 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)