The Brookfield Board of Ethics has determined there is probable cause to schedule a formal hearing on a complaint filed against Greg Beck, a a town emergency services dispatcher and recently elected member of the Board of Education, related to a Facebook post he made while he was on duty that many in the community determined offensive. The post related to his response to the 26 Acts of Kindness page in Newtown that stated that his anniversary tribute would be to provide ammunition for the 26 days to his gun enthusiast friends. The majority of the Board of Education, including Chairman Scott McCarthy, on Wednesday night called for Beck’s resignation. He is a member of A Brookfield Party that was cross-endorsed by the Republican Town Committee, and the Republicans have also asked for his resignation.
To date, Beck has stated he would keep his seat that he won by more than 400 votes over former Democratic Board Chairman Ray DiStephan.
The Ethics Board found on cause to pursue a second complaint, and on Friday morning met in a closed-door session on probable cause for a third complaint, but that discussion was postponed for another meeting on Dec. 30.
Speculation has been that a complaint was filed against Republican First Selectman Bill Tinsley who just before he was sworn into office plead no-contest to a misdemeanor charge of petit larceny related to a case in Vermont. Tinsley has maintained his innocence, and stated the Ethics Board needs to follow its process but he would not allow it to distract from his town leadership responsibilities.