Wolfeboro Commissioner Urged to Resign for Using Racial Slur

UPDATE, May 18: Calls for a Wolfeboro Police Commissioner to resign have increased since he doubled down on his racist comments last week about President Obama. The state has also heard from would-be visitors that they may cancel their trips to New Hampshire because of the comments.

Robert Copeland, 82, has sparked national outrage over his comments referring to President Obama using the "n word." He appears to have dug himself a partisan fox hole as he refuses to apologize.

The Associated Press, via New Hampshire Public Radio, reports that the state office of Travel and Tourism Development has fielded complaints. 

In multiple news reports, as well, Wolfeboro's Police Chief, Stuart Chase, has distanced himself from Copeland. The police chief said the commissioner, an elected position, does not in any way reflect the Wolfeboro Police Department.

Wolfeboro, located on the northeastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, was first settled in 1768 and incorporated in 1770. It is named after General Wolfe, the hero of the Battle of Quebec. The town is home to the vacation estate of former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Former Congressman Jeb Bradley, now a state Senate Majority Leader, is from Wolfeboro, and he has also called on Copeland to apologize and resign.

Police commissioners appoint police personnel, "including police officers, staff, constables and superior officers, as they deem necessary and to fix such persons' compensation," according to the commission's website. "The commissioners shall make and enforce all rules necessary for the operation of the police force in the manner most beneficial to the public interest. The commissioners may at any time remove police personnel for just cause and after a hearing satisfying the requirements of due process, which cause shall be specified in an order of removal except that special police officers appointed and designated as such shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and may be removed for other than just cause."

An earlier post follows:

Wolfeboro Police Commissioner Robert Copeland is under fire for reportedly using a racial slur to describe President Obama.

WMUR-TV reports the commissioner has refused to apologize for using the "n-word."

Jane O'Toole, a local resident, said that she overheard Copeland at a restaurant using the language in reference to the president.

Residents demanded at a meeting in Wolfeboro on May 15 that Copeland resign. He was there, and declined to respond. After O'Toole complained to the town, Copeland wrote in an email that he did use the "n-word" and that he would not apologize.

Copeland later had an angry interchange with WMUR reporter Nick Spinetto after leaving the meeting. He called Spinetto "nosy," and then "a skunk."

WATCH the exchange on WMUR, following coverage of Wolfeboro residents demanding that Copeland resign.