To the editor:
I am writing as a concerned resident of Rochester to express my disappointment and concern regarding the arrest of Doug Robbins during his Fourth of July event.
Doug Robbins has consistently demonstrated his commitment to our community. As a local business owner, former mayoral candidate, and school board advocate, he has spent years trying to bring people together and support Rochester. His recent Fourth of July celebration was another example of that commitment. He welcomed the community with free food and created an event where families and children could gather and celebrate together. Considering the city's official fireworks celebration is not scheduled until July 11, many residents appreciated having an opportunity to celebrate on the holiday itself.
From my understanding, Doug obtained a fireworks permit covering July 3 and July 4, and I have seen reports that the Rochester Police Department confirmed he had an active permit. While I understand there may have been questions regarding the event, I believe the situation could have been handled in a much more professional and respectful manner.
I witnessed officers approach Doug after the fireworks began. In front of families and many young children, he was taken away from the event, and I later saw him brought to the ground before being taken into custody. Regardless of the circumstances, witnessing that level of force used against someone who had organized a positive community event was deeply upsetting.
I am also concerned about whether personal history or prior disagreements may have influenced the handling of this incident. As a resident, I hope that any interactions between law enforcement and members of our community are conducted fairly, impartially, and without the appearance of personal bias. Public trust depends on confidence that every individual is treated equally under the law.
This incident has generated significant discussion throughout Rochester, including on local community forums and social media. Many residents, myself included, are asking for transparency regarding what occurred and why the situation escalated in the manner that it did.
I respectfully request that the city review this incident thoroughly and ensure that appropriate policies were followed. If improvements can be made to how situations like this are handled in the future, I hope those changes will be considered. Our community deserves law enforcement that protects the public while treating everyone with professionalism, dignity, and respect.
Doug Robbins has devoted a great deal of time and effort to making Rochester a better place. Whatever the legal questions surrounding this incident may be, I believe he—and every resident—deserves to be treated fairly.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns. I hope the city will carefully review this matter and take whatever steps are necessary to maintain the public's trust in our local government and police department.
- Brittany Merryfield,
Rochester
A New Hampshire Press Association member