Explanations needed in Webber/Goodwin case

  

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By Jane Zill

July 13, 2014 2:00 AM

In 2012, longtime Portsmouth resident, 92-year-old Geraldine Webber, changed her will to make then 33-year-old officer Aaron Goodwin the primary beneficiary of her estate and it is the year she died. Also, in 2012, the state of New Hampshire earned a "D" on the New Hampshire Corruption Risk Report Card (www.stateintegrity.org/new_hampshire) by the State Integrity Investigation (a joint project of the Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity and Public Radio International.)

Police Sgt. Goodwin claims he received ethical clearance from his "superiors" to pursue a personal relationship with a woman in her 90s afflicted with dementia, enabling him to become the primary beneficiary of her $2.7 million estate, which resulted in the disinheritance of her only surviving relative (a disabled grandson) and of her long-term local friends who took her for meals and provided rides, structure and socialization for her for more than a decade, and also reduced inheritances for esteemed health care and educational institutions, and our own Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments (that is, the taxpaying citizens who employ Goodwin).

Ironically, as can be seen in Webber's 2012 estate planning DVD prepared by attorney Gary Holmes, Webber laments that she does not know how to reach Whitey Bulger, a career criminal linked to corrupt law enforcement in the 1970s. She would like to hire him to knock off anyone who tries to interfere in her plans to change her will. In addition to noting her questionable mental status on the DVD, one can only speculate about why Webber dwelled on the memory of a criminal noteworthy for his links to corrupt law enforcement during the process to revise her will.

The public needs to know if Goodwin is accurate in his claim that the leadership of the Portsmouth Police Department "cleared" him of "any ethical conflicts" when he pursued a relationship with Webber, as reported in the Portsmouth Herald's July 9 publication. The public also needs to know on what basis Goodwin's "superiors" make their ethical decisions.

The impact of questionable ethical guidance must not be swept under the rug through a mediated out-of-court settlement as is being advocated by the legal representation for Goodwin, attorney Chuck Doleac, and for attorney Gary Holmes who revised Webber's will in 2012; defense of this 2012 will is being provided by attorney Ralph Holmes.

Because the Goodwin/Webber case is being managed through probate court, much ado is being made about the funds Webber has left behind. However, for the citizens of Portsmouth this case is primarily about potential police corruption, the conduct of our public servants, and about public safety. The public deserves transparency in the determination if undue influence led to the creation of the 2012 revised will and transparency in confronting the possibility that Webber was emotionally abused and endangered by a public safety officer. Transparency can only be achieved through a hearing — not mediation.

Webber's social supports fell away under Goodwin's influence. She was nearly blind. She became socially isolated. She broke her hip. She died of inanition (slow, progressive starvation) without her longtime allies, friends, grandson and former daughter-in-law at her side. Does anyone care about what her life was like in the year prior to her death or do we only care about her money?

An investigation about the leadership of our Police Department seems essential, specifically its management of ethical issues that involve potential conflicts of interest, cronyism and the impartial treatment of all Portsmouth residents — particularly the elderly, disabled and financially destitute who could truly benefit from a more watchful eye by local law enforcement. Not one elderly Portsmouth resident, family member or caregiver has stepped forward to defend Goodwin or to demonstrate that his interest in Webber was consistent with the attention he showed other elderly Portsmouth residents, regardless of their financial status. It seems that Webber is the only elderly resident Goodwin befriended.

In New Hampshire a third of us are over the age of 50. If the Goodwin/Webber case ends in a behind-the-scenes settlement rather than in court, what will be the takeaway meaning to those of us who will spend our twilight years in New Hampshire when our vulnerability increases and life becomes more challenging, particularly those of us without children or with children who've moved away? For this population, their friends and family members, a settlement means the following: "You're not important anymore, maybe never were, and are not worthy of the protection of the community." For our taxpayer-funded public servants a mediated settlement means this: "Try to get away with whatever you can. You may not get it all but you'll get something and will be able to keep your job and get promoted, too."

A mediated settlement will mean that Goodwin and his associates will financially benefit from the elderly woman's estate. Before we consider such an unjust resolution and one that will perpetuate a culture of low expectations for our public servants, we need the Portsmouth Police Department to formally explain the code of ethics expected of our police officers and how this code squares with Goodwin's actions in the Webber case. We need to also hear from the Portsmouth Police Commission, the body that oversees Police Department actions, about the ethical principles that inform their leadership of a very powerful city department. The state attorney general's office and the Portsmouth City Council also need to make clear their expectations for the ethical conduct of public servants and explain their laissez faire approach to this case.

The public deserves an explanation of the ethical principles that guide the leadership of our state, community and the day-to-day judgment of police officers. Webber's closest friends have made it clear they do not care about the money; instead, they want the citizens of Portsmouth to know what happened to their good friend. It has taken enormous courage on their part to address the failure by the Police Department to police its own. These whistleblowers, many of them elderly, deserve a hearing and full inquiry into the case, and gratitude from our community for courageously bringing this case forward. Public safety, as well as the integrity and reputation of the Portsmouth Police Department, the Police Commission, the City Council, and the town itself deserve nothing less.

Jane Zill is a Portsmouth resident.