Franconia cop resigns over misuse of telecommunications system

CONCORD - A Franconia police officer has agreed to resign and give up his law enforcement credentials after an investigation into his alleged use of the Dept. of Safety's official computer system, a statement from the Attorney Generals Office announced on Wednesday.

The allegations were made against former Franconia Police Officer Gary M. Pilotte, prompting a probe that began on Aug. 31, when the AG's office was notified involving Pilotte's reported misuse of the State Police On-Line Telecommunications System ("SPOTS") following a 2018 off-duty incident.

During the course of the investigation, evidence was obtained that Pilotte violated RSA 260:14, IX(a), RSA 638:17, IV(a), and RSA 643:1 by querying the number plate of a vehicle in SPOTS to obtain and use information about the registered owner for an improper purpose.

Based on the circumstances, the Attorney General's Office has reached an agreement with Pilotte in lieu of filing criminal charges against him.

Pursuant to this agreement, Pilotte has resigned from his position with the Franconia Police Department, and further agreed to the following:

Pilotte will voluntarily surrender his certification as a law enforcement officer in the State of New Hampshire, and, as a result of his decertification, he will be placed on a national registry of decertified officers; he will not seek future employment as a law enforcement officer, including, but not limited to, in any federal, state, county, municipal, university, or tribal law enforcement agency.

Pilotte has also agreed to not contest his placement on the State of New Hampshire's Exculpatory Evidence Schedule ("EES") and have no contact with the registered owner of the number plate queried in this matter for a period of two years.

The Attorney General Office's file in this matter will remain open for a period of two years to monitor Pilotte's adherence to the terms and conditions of the agreement, at which time the Attorney General's Office will close the matter with no further action. In the event Pilotte does not abide by the terms of the agreement, the Attorney General's Office may bring forward criminal charges against Pilotte.