Duxbury's former police chief Mark DeLuca has been placed on paid administrative leave as Cohasset’s police chief following multiple complaints from the Cohasset Police Department's union.

Cohasset Acting Town Manager Michael Milanoski placed DeLuca on paid leave this afternoon pending an investigation by the town. Town officials received multiple allegations against DeLuca from the town's police union according to union president Patrick Reardon. In a press release Milanoski announced that pending the investigation and its results, Deputy Police Chief Bill Quigley will manage the day-to-day operations and personnel of the police department.

DeLuca’s tenure as Duxbury’s police chief was marred by allegations of favoritism and intimidation of police officers and town officials. In February, DeLuca filed a civil suit in federal district court against the Town of Duxbury, Town Manager Richard MacDonald and former Chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen Elizabeth Sullivan claiming a violation of his First Amendment rights. In the complaint, DeLuca alleges his contract with the town was not renewed in 2009 due to his “supporting the organization of a management union.”

At Cohasset's May 12 Town Meeting, residents were forced to pass an additional $190,000 in unexpected police overtime.

Efforts to reach DeLuca were unsuccessful. His lawyer in the civil suit against the town, Gregory Aceto, said he was not aware DeLuca had been placed on leave.