Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas is overseeing the city prosecutor’s office until an interim city solicitor can take over.
On Thursday, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office shared with Manchester officials findings from an investigation into the city’s domestic violence prosecutions. They outlined a multitude of failures both by a domestic violence prosecutor, and her boss, city solicitor Tom Clark.
On Friday, Clark resigned, effective immediately.
Now, Mayor Gatsas is overseeing city prosecutors as the city searches for a temporary leader without previous ties to the office.
City Alderman Pat Long, said the interim head will do a comprehensive review of the entire office.
“We’re looking immediately, as soon as we can, to get somebody in there,” Long said. “somebody to do an assessment, looking at all the dealings that go on at the Solicitor’s level and recommend things to the full board.”
That person will run the office until a permanent city solicitor is hired.
“As an elected official I feel a sense of responsibility,” Long said, “and I certainly feel a sense that those cases we could bring back, we need to seek justice for these victims.” Long said the office will be reopening domestic violence cases that had been dismissed, but have not exceeded the statute of limitations.
